Obama considers plan to delay deportation for millions

WASHINGTON -- President Obama is considering an executive order that would prevent as many as 5 million people from being deported, 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.

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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.

Republicans in Congress, who will control both the House and Senate next year, have warned Obama that unilateral executive action on immigration could poison the well for bipartisan cooperation in the last two years of his presidency.

But immigrant rights advocates have also been upset with Obama for delaying action -- originally expected by the end of the summer -- until after the congressional elections.

Pablo Alvarado of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, said he was unimpressed with the latest "trial balloon."

"We need less leaks and more action from within the White House," he said. "As far as we're concerned, the rumors reported in the Times and by Fox change nothing. They are rumors."

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