WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama will announce this week an executive order that would prevent the deportation of up to 5 million undocumented immigrants, multiple reports say.
The Chicago Tribune reported that Obama plans to issue a reprieve for undocumented immigrants whose children were born in the United States, part of an order that would shield between 4 million and 5 million from deportation. The Tribune cites people familiar with the proposal as its source.
Also Wednesday, the Washington Post reported hat President Obama will announce Thursday that he will use his executive authority to expand temporary protections to millions of undocumented immigrants, also citing several individuals who have been briefed on the decision.
The Post said that Obama will travel to Las Vegas on the heels of that announcement to rally support for his initiative on Friday.
President Obama has issued 193 executive orders since he took office in 2009.
Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) sent a letter to President Obama on Tuesday supporting his decision to use his well-established executive authority to fix the immigration system.
As the Senate Democrats said in their letter to President Obama, “Because House Republicans have not acted, we fully support your decision to use your well-established executive authority to improve as much of the immigration system as you can.”
Wednesday, the White House confirmed this development with a video from the President:
