Obama expected to block deportations

The Obama administration is considering a plan thatwould protectabout5 million immigrants living in U.S,illegally, from deportation. It is part of a broad set of Executive Orders that could be announced as early as next week, say those familiar with the discussions.

The unilateral move by the U.S. President would fall shy of what many immigrant advocates havebeen demanding, but is sureto enrage Republicans.. It could be the first major confrontation between the White House ,and Republicans, since the party swept midtermcongressional elections last week.

Obama argues executive action is necessary because theRepublican-controlled House failed to pass a sweeping, bipartisanimmigration bill approved by the Senate earlier this year.

Travelling in Asia, Obama saidFriday that if Congress has a problem with his plan, it could simply undo itby passing the originallegislation. "I would advise that if in fact they want to take a differentapproach, rather than devote a lot of time trying to constrain mylawful actions as the chief executive of the U.S. government in charge of enforcing our immigrations laws, that they spend some timepassing a bill," he said during a news conference in Yangon, Myanmar.

"We're going to fight the President tooth and nail if hecontinues down this path," House Speaker John Boehner said. "And so, all the options are on the table." Some conservatives in the House and Senate announced plans topush for language in must-pass spending bills to block the Presidentfrom acting. But other Republicans warned that such a push couldresult in another unpopular government shutdown, which happened last year over Obama's health care plan.

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Officials in his administrationsayObama still hasn't received formalrecommendations from the Secretary of Homeland Security,Jeb Johnson. However, they added that Obama is well acquainted with the options open to him. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The protection from deportation could extend to an estimated 5 million people. Theyinclude theparents and spouses of U.S. citizens and permanent residents whohave been in the country for a number ofyears. The President is also expected to expand his 2-year-old program that protects young peoplefrom deportation.

Although Obama is not able to grant citizenship or permanentresident green cardswithout Congressional approval, he can offertemporary protection from deportation, along with permission to work..

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