AKIPRESS.COM - 
Nearly five million people living illegally in the U.S. can escape deportation under sweeping changes to the immigration system.
"Come out of the shadows and get right with the law," urged President Barack Obama in a televised address.
Republicans say the action, without Congress, is beyond his authority and relations will now be poisoned.
There are about 11m illegal immigrants in the US and this year children coming across the border prompted a crisis.
Under the plan, undocumented parents of children who are US citizens or legal residents will be able to apply for work permits lasting three years.
Only parents who have lived in the US for five years will qualify - about 3.7m people are estimated to fit this criteria.
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