Obama plan to shield up to 5 million immigrants from deportation: NY Times

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack
Obama plans to announce an overhaul of U.S.
immigration policy through executive action
that would shield up to 5 million undocumented
immigrants from deportation, the New York
Times reported on Thursday.
Such a move will set up a showdown with
Republicans, who have blocked Democrats'
efforts in Congress to reform immigration laws
and warned the president not to take unilateral
action on immigration.
The Times, citing unidentified administration
officials with direct knowledge of the plan, said
Obama's proposed overhaul may be announced
as soon as next week. Officials said it would
allow many parents of children who are U.S.
citizens or legal residents to obtain work
documents and stay in the United States.
The Times said Obama's plan will provide more
opportunities for immigrants with high-tech
skills and add security resources to the border
with Mexico. Undocumented immigrants with
family ties in the United States and no criminal
record also would be considered lower priority
for deportation than those with criminal
records or who are considered security risks.
Republicans, who won control of Congress in
Nov. 4 elections, have warned Obama not to
take unilateral action on immigration.
Obama told congressional leaders last Friday he
was committed to using executive powers to
ease some restrictions on undocumented
immigrants since Republicans in the House of
Representatives had refused to advance
immigration legislation.
Mitch McConnell, who will be Senate majority
leader starting in January, said if Obama took
unilateral action on immigration, it would be
like "waving a red flag in front of a bull."
When the new Congress convenes in January,
Republicans will have majorities in both
chambers.