IL Lawmakers React to Obama's Immigration Announcement

President Obama said, "it makes no sense to expel talented young people who for all intents and purposes are Americans."

Effective immediately they can request a work permit to stay in the country legally if they came to the U.S. as children, or under the age of 30, are in school or the military and haven't broken the law.

"This is a temporary stopgap measure that lets us focus our resources wisely while giving a degree of hope to talented, patriotic young people," said President Obama.

The president says he's acting because congress won't, but republicans are calling it a power grab.

Congressman Adam Kinzinger said, "He's gone around congress."

During a taping of "FOX Chicago Sunday" Republican Congressman Kinzinger said the president is acting unilaterally because he couldn't get the Dream Act through congress.

Kiinzinger said "The problem right now using executive orders. He's basically brought the executive branch in and said 'we're going to make policy ourselves. We're going to make laws ourselves.' This needs to be debated in congress."

Illinois Senator Dick Durbin said "This is a historic humanitarian moment in American history."

Durbin praised the president for what he called "political courage." Durbin says "it is an opportunity for us to demonstrate to the world the values and caring of a great nation. And equally important it gives to these young people these young men and women, a chance to be part of our future."

Some republicans call it a political stunt by a president courting the critical Hispanic vote. At least one Republican Congressman says he plans to sue the Obama administration to try to stop the executive order from taking effect.