President Barack Obama will speak today in Las Vegas about his new immigration actions, which allows nearly 5 million undocumented immigrants to stay in the country to work.

In Las Vegas, the president will meet with immigration activists and further speak about his plans concerning immigration reform. Viewers can see his speech live via the White House website.

The president gave a speech Wednesday night in which he announced his plans to use his executive authority and select who will remain within in the United States. In his speech, President Obama outlined the reasons for his actions, citing Congress' inaction and Republicans' intransigence, but added that his plan would not be amnesty.

Turning Republican rhetoric against them, President Obama called the current system, plagued with problems, amnesty and any inaction on the issue would lead to more immigrants "living in the shadows" and not contributing in their legal responsibilities.

The president explained a three-point plan, which included strengthening the border and helping foreign students and entrepreneurs stay in the country as well as high-skilled immigrants.

However, in his third point he outlined how to help some of the undocumented immigrants in the nation. He emphasized that they have broken the law and that the government will make sure to deport criminals and not working families.

"If you've been in America for more than five years; if you have children who are American citizens or legal residents; if you register, pass a criminal background check, and you're willing to pay your fair share of taxes -- you'll be able to apply to stay in this country temporarily without fear of deportation. You can come out of the shadows and get right with the law. That's what this deal is," explained the president.

The president further explained: "This deal does not apply to anyone who has come to this country recently. It does not apply to anyone who might come to America illegally in the future. It does not grant citizenship, or the right to stay here permanently, or offer the same benefits that citizens receive -- only Congress can do that. All we're saying is we're not going to deport you."

During his speech President Obama defended his actions by saying previous presidents, both Republicans and Democrats, who have exerted similar executive authority. However, according to the New York Times, policies of presidents like Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush applied to fewer immigrants.

Some argue that, though the president's actions are still legal, they may set a new precedent.

"This action certainly looks a lot more like, 'I'm changing the rules of the game,' rather than 'I'm just choosing not to exercise my discretion,' and that runs counter to Congress's power to decide what the law is," said the former legal counsel to Vice President Dick Cheney, Shannen W. Coffin.

To support his actions, the president released the 33-page Justice Department report outlining the president's actions and its legality. The White House also released a letter signed by 11 legal scholars supporting the president's actions.