U.S. President Barack Obama has dismissed criticism of his executive order changing how the country deals with some undocumented immigrants, urging Republican lawmakers to pass a bill if they are not satisfied with his unilateral action.

In an interview Sunday on ABC’s This Week, the president said it is important to prioritize the deportation of felons, criminals and recent arrivals over people who have lived here illegally more than five years.

Asked about criticism by House Speaker John Boehner, Obama said his response is “pass a bill.”

In his weekly address Saturday, Obama repeated points he made in announcing the immigration plan Thursday. He said it will “bring more undocumented immigrants out of the shadows so they can play by the rules, pay their full share of taxes, pass a criminal background check and get right with the law.”

The president has said he was forced to act because the Republican-controlled House of Representatives would not take up legislation that had passed the Democrat-controlled Senate more than a year ago.

It became even more unlikely that Congress would pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill after this month’s midterm elections, which saw Republicans strengthen their control of the House and gain a majority in the Senate.  The new Congress takes office in January.

Orders begin reforms

The two executive orders, signed Friday, will begin the process of offering temporary work permits and lift the threat of deportation for nearly 5 million undocumented immigrants. 

Boehner has said Obama “is damaging the presidency” by bypassing Congress to take executive action on immigration. 

Obama said Saturday his order is not amnesty, “no matter how often” critics say it is. Amnesty, he said, is “the immigration system we have today: millions of people living here without paying their taxes or playing by the rules.”

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto praised Obama’s executive orders Friday, calling them “an act of justice.”
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