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Obama presses on with immigration plan as clash looms

– ‘Illegal power grab’ –

In a primetime address Thursday, Obama noted that nearly a dozen commanders-in-chief before him have acted unilaterally over the past half century on some facet of immigration reform.

Republicans are not buying it.

“The constitution does not grant the president the power to act as a one-man legislature by appealing to ‘tradition,’” Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus fumed on Twitter.

Under the new rules, people living and working illegally in the country and who meet the criteria can apply for deferred deportation from next spring.

“The president is going to undertake a very aggressive sales job on the actions he announced last night,” White House senior advisor Daniel Pfeiffer said at a reporters’ breakfast, adding that Obama saw immigration as an “incredibly important” priority.

The political firestorm unleashed by Obama does not bode well for relations between Congress and the White House in the coming months.

Boehner provided no specifics about Republican countermeasures, but others have laid out options, including seeking to defund the offices responsible for carrying out Obama’s efforts.

Some want to insert language in must-pass spending legislation that would block the executive action, setting up a showdown that could lead to a government shutdown.

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Lawmakers should push back against Obama’s “illegal power-grab,” said Republican Senator John McCain, who helped craft immigration legislation that passed the Senate but died in the Republican House.

He has warned against provoking another shutdown like one in 2013 that was blamed on Republicans.

“Congress must be creative in using all the tools in our toolbox – including mounting a legal challenge – to oppose the president’s action,” McCain said.

Conservative Senator Ted Cruz called for blocking Obama’s choices for ambassadorial and administration posts, as well as judgeships.

And some, like immigration reform foe congressman Steve King, have even floated the idea of impeachment.

Boehner himself sent a stern political message Friday about the president’s executive overreach, announcing that House Republicans have filed suit in federal court challenging changes the administration made to the Affordable Care Act.

Obama’s action was welcomed warmly in Latin America.

“This seems to me to be an act of justice that recognizes the great contributions made by millions of Mexicans to the development of our North American neighbour,” said Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.

Ecuador said his country had “a certain level of hope” following Obama’s offer.

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“I’m very happy that President Obama has said that there will not be mass deportation. This seems very good,” Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino said.

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