President Barack Obama is expected to announce an executive order for immigration reform on Friday, going through with previous declarations he would take unilateral steps to stop the deportation of millions of illegal immigrants from the U.S., CNBC reported.
Sources familiar with the plans said Obama will make the announcement from Las Vegas. Sources also said the president might unveil a broad outline of the order on Thursday and then provide more details on Friday, CNBC reported.
Republicans have long braced themselves for Obama's immigration plan, which would protect up to five million undocumented immigrants from deportation, allow them to work and increase deferred action for illegal immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children.
Obama was expected to introduce the unilateral action- which he vowed to do when House Republicans refused to pass any sweeping immigration measure- over the summer. But those plans were pushed back until after the midterm elections. Now that Republicans control Congress, taking executive action could send Washington into further political turmoil.
On Sunday, one Republican even threatened his party would shut down the government to stop Obama from taking action, which many conservatives see as unconstitutional, Reuters reported.
"Republicans are looking at different options about how best to respond to the president's unilateral action, which many people believe is unconstitutional, unlawful action on this particular issue," Senator John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, told "Fox News Sunday."
The political spotlight was cast on immigration when an influx of unaccompanied immigrant children from Central America crossed the Mexican border. Over the summer, the Republican-controlled House passed a measure giving Obama a portion of the $3.7 billion he requested to deal with the crisis.
But final a bill was never agreed on before Congress adjourned, CNBC reported.
