President Obama Immigration Speech: Highlights Of Executive Plan To Benefit 5MM Undocumented

On Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014 President Barack Obama addressed the nation on his executive action regarding the immigration reform. It is important to notice, this is not a reform per se, but more like a plan, a good start to begin "solving" the immigration issue in the United States. "The best way to solve this problem is by working together," said the president calling on the Republican party to work together on this matter. He has decided to take action on three specific points.

First, the president has decided to bring additional enforcement to the U.S.-Mexican border. Second, he wants to make it easier and possible for those contributing to the American economy to stay legally in the country, and finally, deal responsibly with the million of undocumented immigrants. "Even if we're a nation of immigrants, we're also a nation of laws," said Obama, stressing that deportations went up 80% in the past few years and he will keep enforcing that.

However, the ones deported will be felons, not families; criminals, not children; gang members, not working moms, according to the president. With this, Obama said that the focus on deportations will be criminals. "Tracking down and deporting millions isn't realistic," he said. "It's not who we are as Americans." The president added that most have been here a long time working hard in low-paying jobs and a lot of them have kids who are American-born or legal residents.

Again, he expect people in this country to live by the rules, but he was willing to cut a deal: If you've been in U.S. for more than 5 years, have children who are American or residents and pay taxes, you can apply to stay temporarily without fear of deportation. It's important to note that this doesn't apply to people who've come recently to this country or who want to come in the future illegally. Also, this "step" regarding immigration is not a citizenship. "All we're saying is we're not going to deport you," the president stressed. He asked that if you meet the criteria, please come clear with the law.

Here's how the White House explains it: