WASHINGTON, November 21 (Sputnik) — US President Barack Obama will use his executive authority for the first time since taking office to fix the country's "broken immigration system", the White House has announced.
"The President's Immigration Accountability Executive Actions will help secure the border, hold nearly 5 million undocumented immigrants accountable, and ensure that everyone plays by the same rules. Acting within his legal authority, the President is taking an important step to fix our broken immigration system," the White House said in a statement Thursday.
President Obama's plan will focus on deporting those who threaten the country's national security such as gang members, felons and recent illegal border-crossers, the White House said.
The plan will also extend legal status and a pathway to naturalization to law abiding undocumented immigrants who grew up in the United States as well as entrepreneurs and students who can contribute to the US economy and will reduce family deportations, according to the White House.
"The President's actions will also streamline legal immigration to boost our economy and will promote naturalization for those who qualify," the White House statement said, adding that while "the President acts, he'll continue to work with Congress on a comprehensive, bipartisan bill".
Earlier on Thursday, Republican Congressman Ted Yoho told Sputnik that a new bill introduced in Congress could prevent US President Barack Obama's planned executive action on immigration reform.
Republicans have expressed their outrage over President Obama acting unilaterally on immigration reform. Meanwhile Obama stated earlier this month that he would do everything legally possible through executive action to improve the US immigration system.
