In a passionate speech to Latino leaders, President Obama on Friday defended his decision to stop deporting certain undocumented youth and blasted Republicans -- including leaders in Congress and Mitt Romney -- for standing in the way of immigration reform.

"In the face of a Congress that refuses to do anything on immigration... I will take action where I can," Mr. Obama said at the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO) conference in Orlando.

"It's long past time we gave them a sense of hope," Mr. Obama said of the undocumented youth who can now qualify to stay in the country legally and acquire work permits.

"Your speaker from yesterday has a different vision," the president continued in reference to Romney, his presumptive general election rival.

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