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Obama to announce major US immigration changes | Obama to announce major US immigration changes |
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US President Barack Obama is expected to announce this week his plans to use overriding executive powers to enact major changes to immigration policy. | |
Several US media report he will unveil his strategy on Friday in Las Vegas. | Several US media report he will unveil his strategy on Friday in Las Vegas. |
The action, which he delayed earlier this year, could lift the threat of deportation for up to five million undocumented migrants. | The action, which he delayed earlier this year, could lift the threat of deportation for up to five million undocumented migrants. |
Republicans in Congress say such action would be beyond Mr Obama's authority and have vowed to fight the initiative. | Republicans in Congress say such action would be beyond Mr Obama's authority and have vowed to fight the initiative. |
The US leader has said Congress had been given ample opportunity to come up with its own plan but failed to act. | The US leader has said Congress had been given ample opportunity to come up with its own plan but failed to act. |
Mr Obama used a similar trip to Las Vegas in 2013 to announced his blueprint for immigration legislation. | Mr Obama used a similar trip to Las Vegas in 2013 to announced his blueprint for immigration legislation. |
Analysis by Thomas Sparrow, BBC Mundo: | |
Hispanics voted overwhelmingly for President Obama in both the 2008 and 2012 elections, in part because of his promise to repair what he called the country's "broken" immigration system. | |
But six years after he came to power, many Hispanics have become disappointed in the president by the lack of a comprehensive immigration reform. | |
Although there are still questions regarding how many undocumented immigrants will ultimately be covered by his unilateral actions and how easy it will be to implement them with a Republican-controlled Congress, the measures will probably play an important part in President Obama's remaining two years in the White House, as he seeks to build his legacy. | |
The announcement and its implementation could also have an impact on the 2016 election cycle, because both Democratic and Republican hopefuls will want to attract the increasingly important Hispanic vote. | |
Preliminary reports indicate the president will extend his "deferred action" plan, which was designed to protect young adults who were brought to the US illegally as children from being deported. | |
The plan is to include parents of children who are US citizens or legal residents. | |
Unnamed officials have told US media the president's current proposal could shield millions of people who reside illegally in the US from deportation. | Unnamed officials have told US media the president's current proposal could shield millions of people who reside illegally in the US from deportation. |
The action is designed to prevent the break-up of families via deportations. The number of those affected by the suggested policy is based on how long an individual has lived in the US. | |
If the administration limits the "deferred action" to those who have lived in the US for more than 10 years, it would affect 2.5 million undocumented immigrants, experts estimate. | |
If the time limit is lowered to five years, it would stop deportations for as many as 3.3 million. | |
Other parts of the executive action reported by the media include: | |
At a news conference during a visit to Myanmar last week, Mr Obama said he had given the House of Representatives more than a year to come up with an immigration bill but they had failed to do so. | At a news conference during a visit to Myanmar last week, Mr Obama said he had given the House of Representatives more than a year to come up with an immigration bill but they had failed to do so. |
The Senate passed a far-reaching immigration bill in 2013, but the House has not taken up the legislation. | The Senate passed a far-reaching immigration bill in 2013, but the House has not taken up the legislation. |
"There has been ample opportunity for Congress to pass a bipartisan immigration bill that would strengthen our borders, improve the legal immigration system and lift millions of people out of the shadows," he said. | "There has been ample opportunity for Congress to pass a bipartisan immigration bill that would strengthen our borders, improve the legal immigration system and lift millions of people out of the shadows," he said. |
"I said that if in fact Congress failed to act, I would use all the lawful authority I possess to try to make the system work better," he added. "And that's going to happen before the end of the year." | "I said that if in fact Congress failed to act, I would use all the lawful authority I possess to try to make the system work better," he added. "And that's going to happen before the end of the year." |
Mr Obama added that as soon as Congress passed a bill he could sign, "any executive actions will be replaced". | Mr Obama added that as soon as Congress passed a bill he could sign, "any executive actions will be replaced". |
But Republicans in Congress said the president should work with them. | But Republicans in Congress said the president should work with them. |
"We're going to fight the president tooth and nail if he continues down this path," House Speaker John Boehner earlier told reporters. | "We're going to fight the president tooth and nail if he continues down this path," House Speaker John Boehner earlier told reporters. |
Mitch McConnell, the incoming Senate majority leader, urged the president to "work with us to try to find a way to improve our immigration system". | Mitch McConnell, the incoming Senate majority leader, urged the president to "work with us to try to find a way to improve our immigration system". |
Some Republicans are pushing for the budget bill to include a statement prohibiting "the use of appropriated funds for the president's immigration machinations". | Some Republicans are pushing for the budget bill to include a statement prohibiting "the use of appropriated funds for the president's immigration machinations". |
Such a move could provoke a block by the Democrats, or a veto by the president, which in turn raises the risk of a government shutdown. | Such a move could provoke a block by the Democrats, or a veto by the president, which in turn raises the risk of a government shutdown. |