WASHINGTON -- President Obama is considering an executive order that would protect as many as 5 million people from deportation, administration officials said Thursday.
But the officials -- speaking on condition of anonymity, citing internal deliberations -- said the details are still being developed and called reports of specific action "pre-decisional."
The New York Times, citing anonymous administration officials, reported Thursday that a key part of the plan would allow immigrant parents of American citizen children to apply for work authorizations that would allow them to stay in the country. The newspaper said the order could come as soon as next week, when President Obama returns from a week-long trip to Asia.
And Fox News reported that a draft of the administration plan includes 10 proposals, including increased border security, improved pay for immigration officers and expanded "deferred action" on immigrant children and their parents. Fox News cited a source "close to the White House" who had seen the draft.
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest confirmed Thursday that Obama recently met with Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, who has been charged with drafting a plan for Obama's approval. But Earnest said no decision had been made about the timing or the substance of the executive orders.
"And I would anticipate that the president will receive some final recommendations from the secretary relatively soon, but certainly not before the conclusion of his trip to Asia," Earnest said in Burma, where Obama is attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit.
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