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Obama offer to 5m illegal migrants Obama offer to 5m illegal migrants
(35 minutes later)
Nearly five million people living illegally in the US can escape deportation under sweeping changes to the US immigration system. Nearly five million people living illegally in the US can escape deportation under sweeping changes to the immigration system.
"Come out of the shadows and get right with the law," urged President Barack Obama in a televised address."Come out of the shadows and get right with the law," urged President Barack Obama in a televised address.
Republicans say the action, without Congress, is beyond his authority and relations will now be poisoned.Republicans say the action, without Congress, is beyond his authority and relations will now be poisoned.
There are about 11m illegal immigrants in the US and this year children coming across the border prompted a crisis.There are about 11m illegal immigrants in the US and this year children coming across the border prompted a crisis.
Most of those affected by Mr Obama's action are the parents of children who are US citizens or legal residents.Most of those affected by Mr Obama's action are the parents of children who are US citizens or legal residents.
The president told the nation that what he is proposing is not amnesty.The president told the nation that what he is proposing is not amnesty.
"What I'm describing is accountability - a commonsense, middle ground approach," he said."What I'm describing is accountability - a commonsense, middle ground approach," he said.
Although the plan will allow millions to work, it won't offer a path to citizenship or entitle them to the same benefits as Americans, he said.Although the plan will allow millions to work, it won't offer a path to citizenship or entitle them to the same benefits as Americans, he said.
"If you're a criminal, you'll be deported. If you plan to enter the US illegally, your chances of getting caught and sent back just went up.""If you're a criminal, you'll be deported. If you plan to enter the US illegally, your chances of getting caught and sent back just went up."
He pledged to crack down on illegal immigration at the border and require certain undocumented migrants to pass a criminal background check and pay taxes in order to register to stay temporarily in the US.He pledged to crack down on illegal immigration at the border and require certain undocumented migrants to pass a criminal background check and pay taxes in order to register to stay temporarily in the US.
Mr Obama said deportations would now focus on "felons not families, criminals not children, gang members, not a mother trying to provide for her kids".Mr Obama said deportations would now focus on "felons not families, criminals not children, gang members, not a mother trying to provide for her kids".
More details include:More details include:
Overall, the action could lift the threat of deportation for up to five million undocumented migrants.Overall, the action could lift the threat of deportation for up to five million undocumented migrants.
The plan reflects "the guidance [Mr Obama] has received from the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney General about everything he could do under the existing law", a senior administration official said on Thursday.The plan reflects "the guidance [Mr Obama] has received from the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney General about everything he could do under the existing law", a senior administration official said on Thursday.
"It's entirely consistent with the way previous presidents have exercised their executive authority.""It's entirely consistent with the way previous presidents have exercised their executive authority."
Analysis: Thomas Sparrow, BBC Mundo Analysis: Jon Sopel, BBC North American Editor
Immigration reform is a topic that has nearly always come up when I have spoken to Hispanics in the United States. How has the immigration debate in the United States become so polarised, so toxic, so unpleasant?
This is obviously not the only topic that worries them - many are also concerned about jobs or healthcare - but there is no doubt that immigration is an issue that affects them personally and in many cases very deeply. That it has cannot be doubted. Barack Obama says he has grown so weary of trying to get Congress to engage seriously that he is going it alone.
A recent poll highlighted that a majority of Hispanics knew an undocumented migrant in their social circle, and another survey described how a quarter of Latinos knew someone who had been deported or detained for immigration reasons. He's bypassing the legislature and brandishing his big stick - the executive order. It is governance by diktat. And the reaction of his opponents suggest it will spark an atmosphere of retaliation and revenge.
This comes to show that far from being just an issue that is being debated among politicians in Washington, president Obama's announcement will be keenly felt in the Hispanic community throughout the country, as the threat from deportation is lifted from many families. How did immigration debate get so toxic?
Mr Obama has pledged for months to take steps on immigration after the Republican-led House of Representatives blocked a bipartisan immigration bill passed by the US Senate in 2013.Mr Obama has pledged for months to take steps on immigration after the Republican-led House of Representatives blocked a bipartisan immigration bill passed by the US Senate in 2013.
But Republican House Speaker John Boehner has said Mr Obama is "playing with fire" if he moves ahead with his immigration plan. But Republicans have said they will challenge any executive action Mr Obama takes and said such a move would poison the well on a number of other issues.
On Thursday, Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell - soon to head the Congressional chamber after conservatives gained control in the 4 November mid-term elections - vowed to retaliate. Arizona Republican Senator John McCain said the action "fails to address the root causes of the dysfunction in our immigration system".
"If President Obama acts in defiance of the people and imposes his will on the country, Congress will act," he said in a speech on the Senate floor, declining to offer further details. "Congress has a responsibility to respond and push back on his illegal power-grab," Mr McCain said.
And Texas Governor Rick Perry, who leads a border state, argued the move would "lead to more illegal immigration, not less".
Mr Obama's plan does not go as far as a Senate bill that would have provided a path to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants but it was never passed by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.Mr Obama's plan does not go as far as a Senate bill that would have provided a path to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants but it was never passed by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.
The US president has said he would sign a compromise bill on immigration from Congress if it passed.The US president has said he would sign a compromise bill on immigration from Congress if it passed.
On Thursday, Mr Obama said those who questioned his authority "to make our immigration system work better, or question the wisdom of me acting where Congress has failed, I have one answer - Pass a bill".On Thursday, Mr Obama said those who questioned his authority "to make our immigration system work better, or question the wisdom of me acting where Congress has failed, I have one answer - Pass a bill".
Will you be affected by Mr Obama's immigration reform? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. If you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist, please leave a contact number.Will you be affected by Mr Obama's immigration reform? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. If you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist, please leave a contact number.
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