Barack Obama announces changes to immigration policy

President Barack Obama will announce his plans to use overriding executive powers to enact major changes to immigration policy.

Barack Obama will unveil his strategy in a televised address on Thursday night, he said in a video posted on Facebook.

The action could lift the threat of deportation for up to five million undocumented migrants.

Republicans in Congress say such action would be beyond Barack Obama’s authority and have vowed to fight the initiative.

Following the announcement, Congressman Paul Ryan warned the president’s immigration order was a “partisan bomb” that will sour his relations with Congress.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters on November 19 that the aim was to make illegal immigrants “fully contributing” members of society, for the good of the country.

It is thought the president will extend his “deferred action” plan (DACA) which allows young adults who were brought to the US illegally as children to stay and work.

The plan is to extend that right to more young people and to more parents of children who are US citizens or legal residents.

The number of those affected by the suggested policy could be as high as five million, out of a total of 11 million illegal immigrants.