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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| 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 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. |
| Under the plan, undocumented parents of children who are US citizens or legal residents will be able to apply for work permits lasting three years. | Under the plan, undocumented parents of children who are US citizens or legal residents will be able to apply for work permits lasting three years. |
| Only parents who have lived in the US for five years will qualify - about 3.7m people are estimated to fit this criteria. | Only parents who have lived in the US for five years will qualify - about 3.7m people are estimated to fit this criteria. |
| 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." |
| The plan will also expand a 2012 programme that defers deportation for young people brought to the country illegally as children. | The plan will also expand a 2012 programme that defers deportation for young people brought to the country illegally as children. |
| Also in the speech: | Also in the speech: |
| 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: Jon Sopel, BBC North America Editor | |
| How has the immigration debate in the United States become so polarised, so toxic, so unpleasant? | How has the immigration debate in the United States become so polarised, so toxic, so unpleasant? |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| How did immigration debate get so toxic? | How did immigration debate get so toxic? |
| Republicans reacted with fury and said such a move "poison the well" on a number of other issues. | Republicans reacted with fury and said such a move "poison the well" on a number of other issues. |
| Arizona Republican Senator John McCain called it an "illegal power-grab" that "fails to address the root causes of the dysfunction in our immigration system". | Arizona Republican Senator John McCain called it an "illegal power-grab" that "fails to address the root causes of the dysfunction in our immigration system". |
| And Texas Governor Rick Perry, who leads a border state, argued the move would "lead to more illegal immigration, not less". | And Texas Governor Rick Perry, who leads a border state, argued the move would "lead to more illegal immigration, not less". |
| Some Hispanic campaigners called on the president to do more. | Some Hispanic campaigners called on the president to do more. |
| "President Obama's important move forward on immigration reform is legally and morally right but deficient in its scope," said Maria Teresa Kumar, president of Voto Latino. | "President Obama's important move forward on immigration reform is legally and morally right but deficient in its scope," said Maria Teresa Kumar, president of Voto Latino. |
| 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. |
| Have your say | Have your say |