President Obama said Friday the United States will stop deporting hundreds of thousands of young illegal immigrants and give them work permits, a move praised fellow Democrats but criticized by Republicans on Capitol Hill who said the administration has side-stepped the country's legislative process.
The executive order will apply to illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. before they were 16 and are younger than 30. They also must have no criminal record, have been in the country for at least five continuous years, have graduated from a U.S. high school or have earned a GED, or served in the military.
"These are young people who study in our schools and play on our playgrounds," the president said. "They are Americans in every single way but one – on paper."
Those now eligible also can apply for a work permit that will be good for two years with no limits on how many times it can be renewed.
The change is expected to impact roughly 800,000 illegal immigrants.
The election-year announcement was met with surprise and question by several GOP lawmakers.
"This is another example of executive overreach," Florida GOP Rep. Allen West told Fox News.
