President Obama’s day focused on immigration

President Obama will spend the day making his case on immigration, even as Congress considers whether to push back against his executive orders shielding many immigrants from deportation.

{mosads}He will meet with immigration advocates Wednesday morning “to provide an update on the Administration’s immigration accountability executive actions,” the White House said.

Then, he will travel to Miami to participate in a town hall on the topic hosted by Telemundo and MSNBC.

The administration’s decision to publicly defend the executive actions on immigration comes as it faces challenges from both Congress and the courts.

Republicans in Congress will spend the day debating whether to press their objection to the executive orders and risk shutting down parts of the Department of Homeland Security. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) appears ready to pass a clean funding bill for the department, but it remains to be seen whether Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) can do the same.

The administration is also grappling with the ruling from a federal judge halting implementation of the executive actions. The Justice Department has asked for the courts to stay the ruling.

Obama said in an op-ed published by The Hill on Tuesday that he would “fight any attempt to turn back” the executive orders.