Obama's immigration actions do have limits

WASHINGTON (AP) — As broadly as President Barack Obama may push the limits of his authority to shield from deportation millions of immigrants illegally in the United States, the fate of millions more will still be left unresolved.

Obama is preparing to flex his executive powers today, using an 8 p.m. EST address to announce that he is sidestepping Congress and ordering his own federal action on immigration.

The reaction from congressional Republicans has been swift and fierce, heralding the start of what could be one of the most pitched partisan confrontations of Obama's presidency.

His measures could make as many as 5 million people eligible for work permits, with the broadest action likely aimed at extending deportation protections to parents of U.S. citizens and permanent residents, as long as those parents have been in the country for five years.

Other potential winners under Obama's actions would be young immigrants who entered the country illegally as children but do not now qualify under a 2012 directive from the president.

With more than 11 million immigrants living in the country illegally, Obama's actions would still leave millions unprotected even though their chances are low of getting deported if they have not committed a crime.