Obama: support for migrants

The President of the United States last week said that immigration reform could proceed before the end of the year, with or without the support of Congress.

Barack Obama’s options include extending the deferred action program, which protects undocumented migrants from deportation, and expanding the number of green cards issued each year.

Obama expects little support from a legislature, both of whose houses are controlled by Republicans, following elections last week.

Last June, the chairman of the House of Representatives, John Boehner, said he would not allow a vote on immigration reform this year.

For his part, Boehner said if Obama undertakes unilateral immigration reform, he risks "poisoning the atmosphere" in Congress.

Obama wants to regularize the status of some 11 million undocumented people.

Close to 60 million Hispanics live in the United States, including illegal aliens, according to the 2012 census.

The majority - over 33 million - comes from Mexico.

There are over a million migrants from each of El Salvador and Guatemala.

Immigrants who are documented and who pay taxes will strengthen the American economy, Obama said.