Obama expected to take action soon on immigration

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

President Barack Obama is poised to act soon to unveil a series of executive actions on immigration that will shield possibly about 5 million immigrants living in the country illegally from deportation, according to advocates in touch with the White House.

The estimate includes extending deportation protections to parents and spouses of U.S. citizens and permanent residents who have been in the country for some years. The president also is likely to expand his 2-year-old program that protects young immigrants from deportation.

Timing of the announcement is unclear, though it’s expected before the end of the year. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Obama would review final recommendations after returning from his Asia trip next week.

Congressional Republicans are strongly opposed to Obama’s plans, and as lawmakers returned to Capitol Hill this week after midterm elections in which the GOP retook the Senate, they vowed to oppose him.

“We’re going to fight the president tooth and nail if he continues down this path. This is the wrong way to govern. This is exactly what the American people said on Election Day they didn’t want,” House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Thursday. “And so all the options are on the table.”

Some conservatives in the House and Senate announced plans to push for language in must-pass spending bills to block the president from acting. But other Republicans warned that such a push could result in another government shutdown like the one last year over Obama’s health care plan.