Reprieve could be in sight for around 4.5 million immigrants in the U.S. as President Barack Obama plans to make public next week a 10-point immigration plan using executive action.

In his meeting last week with GOP leaders at a White House lunch after the midterm elections that saw the Republicans gain control of the house, Obama said he could no longer wait for Congress to pass legislation on immigration reforms.

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Fox News, in an exclusive report, said the plan could be made public as early as November 21. The action was prepared by Homeland Security, although White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said on Thursday to American media travelling with the president to Burma that Obama has not made a final decision and there would not be any announcement until his return to Washington.

Under the plan, the deportation of millions of immigrants who came to the U.S. as children would be suspended or deferred. The plan would also benefit parents of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents.

Time reports that the plan would allow up to 3.3 million parents of American citizens and legal residents to secure work documents and gain employment.

The defer action would expand the program for illegal immigrant that Obama put in place in June 2012 and is estimated to result in another 300,000 illegal immigrants becoming eligible.

The addition would be done because the plan would include anybody who entered the U.S. before they were 16 as of January 1, 2010 from the previous criterion of being under 31 as of June 2012 and must have entered the country before June 2007.

To give the plan more push, the first 10,000 applicants for naturalization would get a 50 percent discount on naturalization fees, except those earning more than 200 percent of the poverty level.

While the GOP leaders told Obama at the White House lunch that the result of the midterm election is a clear mandate for the Republicans which the president should construe as waiting for the majority to decide on the immigration problem, Democrats and immigration groups asked Obama to immediately take action.

The Republicans told Obama chances for cooperation between the House Congressional leaders and the White House would become slimmer if the president pursues his executive action.

Steny Hoyer, House Democratic whip, urged the president to provide relief to immigrant families who are torn apart and living in fear over fears of deportation. Angela Maria Kelley, vice president for immigration policy at the Center for American Progress, pointed out that 11 presidents have used deferred action 39 times in the last six decades, attesting to its being a "tried and true component of immigration policy."

Obama has previously stated that if Congress acts on immigration reforms, it could still supersede the 10-point program he plans to initiate soon.

However, like Obama, a California Democratic congressman could no longer wait for GOP action.

"We're begging the president. Go big. These [illegal immigrants] are a plus to our nation," Fox News quoted Rep. Juan Vargas as saying. "Mr. President, please. You said you were going to do something. Do it. Act now."

TagsBarack Obama, immigration, Republicans