Obama prepares immigration executive action

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama is preparing to announce new measures that could allow millions of immigrants who entered illegally to remain in the United States without fear of deportation -- a politically explosive decision that could jolt Washington before the midterm elections, according to people who have been in touch with the White House.

Administration officials have told allies in private meetings that both the current surge of Central American children crossing the border and Congress' failure this year to pass a broader immigration overhaul have propelled the president toward taking action on his own by summer's end.

Obama aides have discussed a range of options that could provide legal protections and work permits to a significant portion of the nation's more than 11 million undocumented residents, said Democratic lawmakers and immigrant advocates who have met recently with White House officials.

Ideas under consideration could include temporary relief for law-abiding immigrants here illegally who are closely related to U.S. citizens or those who have lived in the country a certain number of years -- a population that advocates say could reach as high as 5 million.

White House officials emphasized that Obama has not made a final decision.

Some Senate Democrats running for re-election in traditionally conservative states, such as Arkansas and Louisiana, have expressed misgivings about Obama going too far on his immigration order, fearing it would not play well among voters in their states.

But supporters of executive action said the president has little to lose by embracing a broad legalization program that could become a signature achievement in a second term defined by legislative gridlock on Capitol Hill.

Though politically charged, such a move would allow Obama to present a sharp contrast with Republicans -- who have remained staunchly opposed to loosening immigration enforcement -- and cement Hispanic support for the Democratic Party for years to come, supporters said.

Congress was unable to agree on a border funding bill before its recess, and Obama signaled in a news conference Friday that he believes that has opened the door for him to act.

"House Republicans suggested that since they don't expect to pass a bill I can sign, that I should go ahead and act on my own to solve the problem," Obama said.

The anticipation that Obama is preparing to sign off on a major expansion of the 2012 relief program -- which has delayed deportations of more than 550,000 younger immigrants -- has prompted Republicans to begin framing such a move as more evidence of an imperial White House intent on circumventing Congress.

The House GOP already has approved a lawsuit accusing Obama of abusing his authority, focused on the administration's implementation of his health care law. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), a leading opponent of loosening immigration laws, warned last week that a large-scale "administrative amnesty" would trigger a confrontation with Congress, saying in a floor speech: "Do not do this, Mr. President. You cannot do this."