“President Obama, an ex-constitutional law professor, whose favorite word is audacity, is prepared to violate the principles of Constitutional law that he taught,” said King, vice-chairman of the House Subcommittee on Immigration. “The American people have rejected amnesty because it will erode the rule of law. In much the same way, I believe the American people will reject President Obama for his repeated efforts to violate the constitutional separation of powers.”

The DREAM Act would have created a path to legal residency for undocumented youth under 35 years old who arrived in this country before they turned 16, lived here for five straight years, and do not have a criminal record. They would have had to graduate from high school or obtained a GED, and complete two years in college or serve in the military.

Obama’s announcement raises the prominence of a hot button issue into the presidential campaign that affects a growing portion of the electorate in key swing states.

Mitt Romney took a hard line stance on illegal immigration during the Republican primary race and has since been trying to make inroads with the Hispanic voters who make up a growing share of the electorate.

Romney has been planning on using a speech next Thursday, before the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials in Orlando, as a prominent venue to discuss anew his approach to immigration. President Obama is addressing the same group the following day.

Romney gave a speech this morning in New Hampshire as he launched a six-state bus tour, but he did not mention immigration. His campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Obama’s policy.

Obama is moving to make the policy change by bypassing Congress but it could be overturned by a future administration.