President Barack Obama repeatedly claimed that there is precedent for the executive actions he took on immigration. Are the actions really the "same kinds of actions" taken by past presidents?

The actions taken by Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush were attempts to address ambiguities in an immigration law passed by Congress. Obama's executive actions are different. They are a response to congressional failure to pass a law, and they affect a far greater number of immigrants in the U.S. illegally. Obama's plan doesn't provide the full path to citizenship as envisioned under a comprehensive immigration bill. Those eligible are parents of U.S. citizens, or are legal permanent residents of the U.S. for at least five years, and an expanded group of people who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children. The executive actions provide temporary relief of three years from the threat of deportation to parents who are in the U.S. illegally but who have children who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. The parents must have lived in the U.S. at least five years, and must register and pass background checks to obtain the reprieve. They also must pay taxes and prove that their child was born on or before Nov. 20. If they meet the requirements, they would also be given work authorization for the three-year period. The Pew Research Center notes in its report on the executive actions that the unauthorized immigrants affected wouldn't be eligible for certain government benefits including subsidies for obtaining insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Another policy changes announced in the president's action are an increased number of visas for skilled workers and spouses of green card holders. Obtaining drivers licenses and discounted instate tuition would be decided at the state level. Estimates of those eligible are 3.7 to 5.2 million people.

Another part of Obama's executive actions sends more resources to the border and prioritizes the deportation of criminals and recent arrivals. There are an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. While the remaining 6 million won't receive a work permit, the government says it will not actively try to deport them if they haven't been convicted of a crime. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services "Some (plan) initiatives will be implemented over the next several months, and some will take longer."

Bachmann goes too far

Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann wrongly suggested that Obama is granting citizenship and voting privileges to immigrants who are in the country illegally. His executive actions do neither of those. Obama's plan in no way bestows citizenship on immigrants who are in the country illegally. And only U.S. citizens have the right to vote in federal and state elections.

Chip Tuthill is a long-time resident of Mancos. Websites used: factcheck.org and pewresearch.org