Barack Obama set for executive action on immigration

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama will unveil his long-awaited immigration plan, changing rules governing deportations that could affect millions of undocumented immigrants, including 4,50,000 from India.

"Everybody agrees that our immigration system is broken. Unfortunately, Washington has allowed the problem to fester for far too long," Obama said in a video posted on his Facebook page yesterday.

His orders will allow up to 4 million undocumented immigrants of the 11 million to get temporary work permits and provide relief to another 1 million through other means, CNN reported.

According to Pew Research Centre, those from neighbouring Mexico are to benefit the most as they account for the maximum number of illegal immigrants in the US.

Over 4,50,000 unauthorised Indian immigrants live in the US, constituting four per cent of the total illegal immigrants in the country.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Obama's executive actions will give illegal immigrants a line to come forward, be recognised, and get in the system.