20 November 2014
Last updated at 20:49 ET
Many migrants head north to the US by train
"Come out of the shadows and get right with the law," urged President Barack Obama in a televised address.
Republicans say the action, without Congress, is beyond his authority and relations will now be poisoned.
There are about 11m illegal immigrants in the US and this year children coming across the border prompted a crisis.
Most of those affected by Mr Obama's action are the parents of children who are US citizens or legal residents.
The president told the nation that what he is proposing is not amnesty.
"What I'm describing is accountability - a commonsense, middle ground approach," he said.
Although the plan will allow millions to work, it won't offer a path to citizenship or entitle them to the same benefits as Americans, he said.
"If you're a criminal, you'll be deported. If you plan to enter the US illegally, your chances of getting caught and sent back just went up."
He pledged to crack down on illegal immigration at the border and require certain undocumented migrants to pass a criminal background check and pay taxes in order to register to stay temporarily in the US.
Mr Obama said deportations would now focus on "felons not families, criminals not children, gang members, not a mother trying to provide for her kids".
More details include:
VIDEO:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30136245
The plan reflects "the guidance [Mr Obama] has received from
the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney General about
everything he could do under the existing law", a senior administration
official said on Thursday.
"It's entirely consistent with the way previous presidents have exercised their executive authority."
Analysis: Thomas Sparrow, BBC Mundo
Immigration reform is a topic that has nearly always come up when I have spoken to Hispanics in the United States.
This is obviously not the only topic that worries them - many are also concerned about jobs or healthcare - but there is no doubt that immigration is an issue that affects them personally and in many cases very deeply.
A recent poll highlighted that a majority of Hispanics knew an undocumented migrant in their social circle, and another survey described how a quarter of Latinos knew someone who had been deported or detained for immigration reasons.
This comes to show that far from being just an issue that is being debated among politicians in Washington, president Obama's announcement will be keenly felt in the Hispanic community throughout the country, as the threat from deportation is lifted from many families.
Mr Obama has pledged for months to take steps on immigration
after the Republican-led House of Representatives blocked a bipartisan
immigration bill passed by the US Senate in 2013.
But Republican House Speaker John Boehner has said Mr Obama is "playing with fire" if he moves ahead with his immigration plan.
On Thursday, Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell - soon to head the Congressional chamber after conservatives gained control in the 4 November mid-term elections - vowed to retaliate.
"If President Obama acts in defiance of the people and imposes his will on the country, Congress will act," he said in a speech on the Senate floor, declining to offer further details.
Some detained immigrant children are housed in residential centres in Texas
Mr Obama's plan does not go as far as a Senate bill that would
have provided a path to citizenship for millions of undocumented
immigrants but it was never passed by the Republican-controlled House of
Representatives.
The US president has said he would sign a compromise bill on immigration from Congress if it passed.
On Thursday, Mr Obama said those who questioned his authority "to make our immigration system work better, or question the wisdom of me acting where Congress has failed, I have one answer - Pass a bill".
Will you be affected by Mr Obama's immigration reform? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. If you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist, please leave a contact number.
Have your say
Obama offer to 5m illegal migrants
Many migrants head north to the US by train
Nearly
five million people living illegally in the US can escape deportation
under sweeping changes to the US immigration system.
Republicans say the action, without Congress, is beyond his authority and relations will now be poisoned.
There are about 11m illegal immigrants in the US and this year children coming across the border prompted a crisis.
Most of those affected by Mr Obama's action are the parents of children who are US citizens or legal residents.
The president told the nation that what he is proposing is not amnesty.
"What I'm describing is accountability - a commonsense, middle ground approach," he said.
Although the plan will allow millions to work, it won't offer a path to citizenship or entitle them to the same benefits as Americans, he said.
"If you're a criminal, you'll be deported. If you plan to enter the US illegally, your chances of getting caught and sent back just went up."
He pledged to crack down on illegal immigration at the border and require certain undocumented migrants to pass a criminal background check and pay taxes in order to register to stay temporarily in the US.
Mr Obama said deportations would now focus on "felons not families, criminals not children, gang members, not a mother trying to provide for her kids".
More details include:
- expanding eligibility requirements for those already subject to deportation deferment because they were brought to the US as children
- ensuring undocumented parents of US citizens or legal permanent residents can temporarily escape deportation
- shifting additional resources to the US-Mexico border to increase the likelihood of apprehending illegal crossers
- streamlining the immigration court process to address the backlog of pending cases
- directing government enforcement activities to national security threats, serious criminals and recent border crossers as highest priorities for removal from the US
VIDEO:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30136245
A Mexican facing deportation speaks to the BBC
"It's entirely consistent with the way previous presidents have exercised their executive authority."
This is obviously not the only topic that worries them - many are also concerned about jobs or healthcare - but there is no doubt that immigration is an issue that affects them personally and in many cases very deeply.
A recent poll highlighted that a majority of Hispanics knew an undocumented migrant in their social circle, and another survey described how a quarter of Latinos knew someone who had been deported or detained for immigration reasons.
This comes to show that far from being just an issue that is being debated among politicians in Washington, president Obama's announcement will be keenly felt in the Hispanic community throughout the country, as the threat from deportation is lifted from many families.
But Republican House Speaker John Boehner has said Mr Obama is "playing with fire" if he moves ahead with his immigration plan.
On Thursday, Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell - soon to head the Congressional chamber after conservatives gained control in the 4 November mid-term elections - vowed to retaliate.
"If President Obama acts in defiance of the people and imposes his will on the country, Congress will act," he said in a speech on the Senate floor, declining to offer further details.
Some detained immigrant children are housed in residential centres in Texas
The US president has said he would sign a compromise bill on immigration from Congress if it passed.
On Thursday, Mr Obama said those who questioned his authority "to make our immigration system work better, or question the wisdom of me acting where Congress has failed, I have one answer - Pass a bill".
Or comment here:
From other news sites
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Russia Today Obama extends deportation reprieve to 5 million undocumented immigrants 27 mins ago
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Guardian.co.uk Obama announces plan to shield five million undocumented migrants from deportation 30 mins ago
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Reuters UK UPDATE 4-Obama says his immigration plan is lawful 39 mins ago
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CNN Obama's plan shields 5 million immigrants 1 hr ago
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The Economist Lexington: Barack Obama runs a red light 10 hrs ago
