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US president Barack Obama had promised to overhaul the immigration system by the end of the summer. Photograph: Larry Downing/Reuters

the issue of US immigration reform fearing the effect on the Congressional mid-term elections in November and the loss of Democratic control of the Senate.

Mr Obama had promised to act unilaterally, bypassing Republicans in Congress, to overhaul the immigration system by the end of the summer but bowed to pressure from fellow Democrats by deciding over the weekend to shelve the issue until after Novembers ballot.

The Republican-led House has refused to vote on a comprehensive immigration reform bill, passed by Senate Democrats and Republicans, which would put 11 million illegal immigrants, including an estimated 50,000 Irish, on a path to US citizenship.

Republicans have stalled the bill largely over concerns about controls along the border with Mexico and that a path to citizenship would reward illegal actions and be seen as an amnesty.

The arrival of tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors from Central America, fleeing violence and poverty seeking refuge in a country that many believe will receive them openly, has changed the politics of the reform debate, leading some Democrats to call on Mr Obama to address the border crisis before addressing the issue of changes to immigration legislation.

On Saturday the White House said Mr Obama was postponing executive action on immigration until later in the year, again blaming Republicans for their opposition to the issue.

Im going to act because its the right thing for the country, he said in an interview on NBC Sunday talk show, Meet The Press. But its going to be more sustainable and more effective if the public understands what the facts are on immigration, what weve done on unaccompanied children and why its necessary.

Mr Obama said he wanted to spend some time, even as were getting all our ducks in a row for the executive action. I also want to make sure that the public understands why were doing this.

The delay will reduce the impact of the issue in the Congressional election campaign where Republicans are targeting vulnerable Democrats in an attempt to record a net gain of six seats to regain control of the Senate, which would give them control of Congress if they retain their majority in the House.

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Obama stalls plan on immigration reform

Bob McDonnell #39;s fall from grace, ISIL social media and immigration reform
On the Webcast Extra, Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and wife found guilty of corruption this week. What led to the stunning convictions? Also, President Obama has said he will take executive...

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Bob McDonnell's fall from grace, ISIL social media and immigration reform - Video

Washington Week | Bob McDonnell #39;s fall from grace, ISIL social media and immigration reform | PBS
On the Webcast Extra, Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and wife found guilty of corruption this week. What led to the stunning convictions? Also, President Obama has said he will take executive...

By: PBS

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Washington Week | Bob McDonnell's fall from grace, ISIL social media and immigration reform | PBS - Video

WASHINGTON Caught between competing political demands over immigration, President Barack Obama will now wait until after the November election to take executive action that could shield millions of immigrants from deportation and ignite a clash over the extent of his presidential authority.

Obamas decision abandons a pledge he made June 30 to act quickly after summers end, and it prompted an immediate and furious backlash from immigration advocates. But in the past several weeks, the pressure for swift measures from pro-immigration groups ran up against fears from Democrats that acting now would energize Republican opposition against vulnerable Senate Democrats.

Two White House officials said Obama concluded that circumventing Congress through executive actions on immigration during the campaign would politicize the issue and hurt future efforts to pass a broad overhaul. They said he fully intends to act before the end of the year.

Reflecting the passion behind the threat of deportations, however, immigration advocacy groups that have criticized Republicans for not passing an immigration overhaul instantly turned their anger on Obama.

Cristina Jimenez, managing director of United We Dream, said the decision was another slap to the face of the Latino and immigrant community.

Where we have demanded leadership and courage from both Democrats and the president, weve received nothing but broken promises and a lack of political backbone, she said.

The White House officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the presidents decision before it was announced, said Obama made his decision Friday as he returned to Washington from a NATO summit in Wales.

They said Obama called a few allies from Air Force One to inform them of his decision, and that the president made more calls from the White House on Saturday.

Obama went to the White House Rose Garden on June 30 to angrily declare that House Speaker John Boehner had informed him that the Republican-controlled House would not be taking up any measures to overhaul the immigration system. As a result, he said, he had directed Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and Attorney General Eric Holder to give him recommendations for executive action by the end of summer. Obama also pledged to adopt those recommendations without further delay.

By delaying, the White House weighed the benefits of acting now and running the risk of immigration getting blamed for any Democratic losses, especially in the Senate where Democratic control hangs in the balance.

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Immigration reform on hold until November elections

President Barack Obama reversed course on Saturday and delayed taking executive action on immigration reform until after November congressional elections, bowing to concerns it could cost his fellow Democrats control of the U.S. Senate.

Obama had promised in a high-profile White House appearance in June to announce unilateral measures by the end of summer if Congress did not enact immigration reform legislation.

A White House official cited partisan politics as the main reason for the delay.

"The reality the president has had to weigh is that we're in the midst of the political season," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"And because of the Republicans' extreme politicization of this issue, the president believes it would be harmful to the policy itself and to the long-term prospects for comprehensive immigration reform to announce administrative action before the elections," the official said.

Obama will take action on immigration before the end of the year, the White House said.

Immigration reform advocates called the delay a betrayal of the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States and accused Obama of putting politics first.

"Today the president and the Senate Democrats have made it very clear that undocumented immigrants and Latinos are simply viewed as political pawns," said Eddie Carmona, campaign manager for the PICO immigration reform group.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who is in a tight midterm race himself, called the decision cynical.

"He's just saying he'll go around the law once it's too late for Americans to hold his party accountable in the November elections," the Kentucky senator said in a statement.

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Obama won't act on immigration reform after November elections