WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama suddenly eased enforcement of the nation's immigration laws Friday, an extraordinary step offering a chance for hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants to stay in the country and work. Embraced by Hispanics, his action touched off an election-year confrontation with many Republicans.

Mitt Romney, Obama's GOP election foe, criticized the step but did not say he would try to overturn it if elected.

Obama said the change would become effective immediately to "lift the shadow of deportation from these young people."