14 November 2014
Last updated at 04:38 ET
Republicans in Congress say such action would be beyond Mr Obama's authority.
His remarks follow media reports he plans to extend protection from deportation, potentially affecting as many as five million immigrants.
'Tooth and nail' At a news conference during a visit to Myanmar, Mr Obama said he had given the House of Representatives more than a year to come up with an immigration bill but they had failed to do so.
The Senate passed a far-reaching immigration bill in 2013, but the House has not taken up the legislation.
"There has been ample opportunity for Congress to pass a
bipartisan immigration bill that would strengthen our borders, improve
the legal immigration system and lift millions of people out of the
shadows," he said.
"I said that if in fact Congress failed to act, I would use all the lawful authority I possess to try to make the system work better," he added.
"And that's going to happen before the end of the year."
Mr Obama added that as soon as Congress passed a bill he could sign, "any executive actions will be replaced".
Mr Obama says if Congress can pass a bill which he can sign, he will abandon executive action
Many in the US want prompt action on immigration
But Republicans in Congress said the president should work with them.
"We're going to fight the president tooth and nail if he continues down this path," House Speaker John Boehner told reporters.
Mitch McConnell, the incoming Senate majority leader, urged the president to "work with us to try to find a way to improve our immigration system".
Some Republicans are pushing for the budget bill to include a
statement prohibiting "the use of appropriated funds for the president's
immigration machinations".
Such a move could provoke a block by the Democrats, or a veto by the president, which in turn raises the risk of a government shutdown.
Republicans say they want increased border security alongside immigration reform
Unilateral action has been expected on immigration but details
of what the president was considering were first reported this week in
the New York Times and Fox News .
At the centre of the reports is a plan to extend the president's "deferred action" plan, which was designed to protect young adults who were brought to the US illegally as children from being deported.
The plan is to include parents of children who are US citizens or legal residents.
The action is designed to prevent the break-up of families via deportations. The number of those affected by the suggested policy is based on how long an individual has lived in the US.
If the administration limits the "deferred action" to those who have lived in the US for more than 10 years, it would affect 2.5 million undocumented immigrants, experts estimate.
If the time limit is lowered to five years, it would stop deportations for as many as 3.3 million.
Other parts of the executive action reported by the media include:
Barack Obama defends US immigration reform pledge
TO SEE VIDEOS:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30042847
Obama: "Everybody agrees that the system is broken"
US
President Barack Obama has defended plans to use his overriding
executive powers to push through changes to the nation's immigration
system.
He said Congress had been given ample opportunity to come up with its own plan but had failed to act.Republicans in Congress say such action would be beyond Mr Obama's authority.
His remarks follow media reports he plans to extend protection from deportation, potentially affecting as many as five million immigrants.
'Tooth and nail' At a news conference during a visit to Myanmar, Mr Obama said he had given the House of Representatives more than a year to come up with an immigration bill but they had failed to do so.
The Senate passed a far-reaching immigration bill in 2013, but the House has not taken up the legislation.
Stephanie Ramirez left her family in the US to start a new life alone in Mexico
"I said that if in fact Congress failed to act, I would use all the lawful authority I possess to try to make the system work better," he added.
"And that's going to happen before the end of the year."
Mr Obama added that as soon as Congress passed a bill he could sign, "any executive actions will be replaced".
Mr Obama says if Congress can pass a bill which he can sign, he will abandon executive action
Many in the US want prompt action on immigration"We're going to fight the president tooth and nail if he continues down this path," House Speaker John Boehner told reporters.
Mitch McConnell, the incoming Senate majority leader, urged the president to "work with us to try to find a way to improve our immigration system".
The broken lives of immigrants deported from the US to Mexico
Such a move could provoke a block by the Democrats, or a veto by the president, which in turn raises the risk of a government shutdown.
Republicans say they want increased border security alongside immigration reformAt the centre of the reports is a plan to extend the president's "deferred action" plan, which was designed to protect young adults who were brought to the US illegally as children from being deported.
The plan is to include parents of children who are US citizens or legal residents.
The action is designed to prevent the break-up of families via deportations. The number of those affected by the suggested policy is based on how long an individual has lived in the US.
If the administration limits the "deferred action" to those who have lived in the US for more than 10 years, it would affect 2.5 million undocumented immigrants, experts estimate.
Increased border security has made life for nearby residents difficult
Other parts of the executive action reported by the media include:
- Increasing the number of high-tech workers allowed to live and work in the US
- An expansion of the existing deferred action plans that would move the cut-off date for children arriving to 2010
- Shift border security resources to the US southern border, according to reports.
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From other news sites
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The Guardian Nigeria Barack Obama to reform US immigration system this year 3 hrs ago
-
Bangladesh Daily Star Obama defends immigration pledge 4 hrs ago
-
Reuters UK Boehner declines to rule out government shutdown fight on immigration 7 hrs ago
-
Times of India Pushback over reported Obama plan to block deportations 9 hrs ago
-
Chicago Tribune Threats and promises on immigration 12 hrs ago
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