U.S. President Barack Obama announces executive actions on U.S. immigration policy during a nationally televised address from the White House, November 20, 2014 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Jim Bourg-Pool/Getty Images)

U.S. President Barack Obama announces executive actions on U.S. immigration policy during a nationally televised address from the White House, November 20, 2014 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Jim Bourg-Pool/Getty Images)

From the East Room of the White House, President Obama announced a plan that will protect up to five million people from deportation through the use of executive actions.

“For more than 200 years, our tradition of welcoming immigrants from around the world has given us a tremendous advantage over other nations,” Obama said Thursday evening. “It’s kept us youthful, dynamic, and entrepreneurial. It has shaped our character as a people with limitless possibilities — people not trapped by our past, but able to remake ourselves as we choose.

“But today, our immigration system is broken, and everybody knows it.”

In a 15-minute speech, Obama said undocumented people who have been in the country for more than five years, have children who are citizens or legal residents, and register, pass a criminal background check and pay taxes will be allowed to stay in America at least temporarily.

“Even as we focus on deporting criminals, the fact is, millions of immigrants — in every state, of every race and nationality — will still live here illegally. And let’s be honest — tracking down, rounding up, and deporting millions of people isn’t realistic,” Obama said. “Anyone who suggests otherwise isn’t being straight with you. It’s also not who we are as Americans. After all, most of these immigrants have been here a long time. They work hard, often in tough, low-paying jobs. They support their families. They worship at our churches. Many of their kids are American-born or spent most of their lives here, and their hopes, dreams, and patriotism are just like ours.

“As my predecessor, President Bush, once put it: ‘They are a part of American life.'”

Obama challenged Congress to pass a bill, as members, including House Majority Leader John Boehner, question the president’s ability to make these decisions.

“If you meet the criteria, you can come out of the shadows and get right with the law,” Obama said. “If you’re a criminal, you’ll be deported. If you plan to enter the U.S. illegally, your chances of getting caught and sent back just went up.”

Obama stressed that his actions do not grant citizenship to undocumented people, saying that “only Congress can do that.” He also rejected the characterization of his actions as amnesty: “Amnesty is the immigration system we have today — millions of people who live here without paying their taxes or playing by the rules, while politicians use the issue to scare people and whip up votes at election time.”

Outside the White House, protestors in favor of immigration reform gathered.

Via White House.

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