Struggle looms over Obama migrant plan

US President Barack Obama is poised to unveil executive action that will shield as many as 5 million immigrants living in the United States illegally from deportation, according to advocates in touch with the White House, an order that is likely to set up a confrontation with Republican leaders.

Republicans have warned the president that such unilateral White House action would deeply complicate prospects of Congress passing legislation to overhaul the immigration system. Obama, under pressure from Latino advocates to act, argues executive action is necessary because the Republican-led House never acted on a bipartisan immigration bill passed last year by the Senate.

Obama, speaking at a news conference in Myanmar during his Asia trip, said on Friday he would take action before the end of the year.