Reporter well, actually, i decided to go ahead and spring for the poncho. I dont want to jinx anything, but im hoping that i do get a lot of use out of this, this winter. In walnut creek, laura anthony, abc 7 news. President obama will unveil the most sweeping executive action on immigration in decades. Two of the main points hell discuss extending legal status to a million undocumented immigrants. From the east room of the white house, the president is set to speak. He will also talk about accessing federal health care. Heres the president. My fellow americans, tonight id like to talk with you about immigration. For more than 200 years, our tradition of welcoming immigrants from around the world has given us a tremendous advantage over other nations. Its kept us youthful, dynamic, and entrepreneurial. It has shaped our character as a people with limitless possibilities. People not trapped by our past, but able to remake ourselves as we choose. But today our immigration system is broken. And Everybody Knows it. Families who enter our country the right way and play by the rules, watch others flaunt the rules. Business owners who offer the workers good wages and benefits see the competition exploit undocumented immigrants by paying them far less. All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in america without taking on the responsibilities of living in america. Undocumented immigrants who desperately want to embrace those responsibilities see little option but remain in the shadows, or risk their families being torn apart. Its been this way for decades. And for decades, we havent done much about it. When i took office, i committed to fixing this broken immigration system. And i began doing what i could to secure our borders. Today we have more agents and technology deployed to secure our southern border than at any time in our history. Over the past six years, illegal border crossings have been cut by more than half. Although, this summer there was a brief spike in uncompanied children being apprehended at our border. The number of such children is actually lower than its been in two years. Overall, the number of people trying to cross our border illegally is at its lowest level since the 1970s. Those are the facts. Meanwhile, i worked with congress on a comprehensive fix. Last year 68 democrats, republicans and independents came together to pass a bipartisan bill in the senate. It wasnt perfect. It was a compromise. But it reflected common sense. It would have doubled the number of Border Patrol agents, while giving undocumented immigrants a pathway to citizenship if they paid a fine, started paying their taxes, and went to the back of the line. An independent expert said it will help grow our economy and shrink our deficits. Had the house of representatives allowed that kind of bill, a simple yes or no vote, they would have passed with support from both parties. And today it would be the law. But for a year and a half now, Republican Leaders in the house have refused to allow that simple vote. Now, i continue to believe that the best way to solve this problem is by working together to pass that kind of commonsense law. But until that happens, i have the Legal Authority to take actions as taken by democratic and republican president s before me, that will help make our immigration system more fair, and more just. Tonight im announcing those actions. First, well build on our progress at the border with Additional Resources for our Law Enforcement personnel. So they can stem the flow of illegal crossings and speed the return of those who do cross over. Second, ill make it easier and faster for highskilled immigrants, graduates and entrepreneurs to stay and contribute to our economy. As so many Business Leaders have proposed. Third, well take steps to deal responsibly with the millions of undocumented immigrants who already live in our country. I want to say more about this third issue, because it generates the most passion and controversy. Even as we are a nation of immigrants, were also a nation of laws. Undocumented workers broke our immigration laws. And i believe that they must be held accountable. Especially those who may be dangerous. Thats why over the past six years deportations of criminals are up 80 . Thats why were going to keep focusing enforce will resources to actual threats to our security. Felons, not families, criminals, not children, gang members, not ha mom whos working hard to provide for her kids. Well prioritize, just like Law Enforcement does every day. But even as we focus on deporting criminals, the fact is, millions of immigrants in every state, in every race and nationality still live here illegally. Lets be honest. Tracking down, rounding up, and deporting millions of people isnt realistic. Anyone who suggests otherwise isnt being straight with you. Its also not who we are as americans. After all, most of these immigrants have been here a long time. They work hard, often in tough lowpaying jobs. They support their families. They worship at our churches. Many of their kids are american born, or spend most of their lives here. And their hopes, dreams and patriotism are just like ours. As my predecessor, president bush once put it, they are a part of the american life. Now, heres the thing. We expect people who live in this country to play by the rules. We expect that those who cut the line will not be unfairly rewarded. Were going to offer the following deal. If youve 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 youre willing to pay your fair share of taxes, youll 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. Thats what this deal is. Now, lets be clear about what it isnt. 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 were saying is, were not going to deport you. I know some of the critics of this action call it amnesty. Well, its not. Amnesty is the immigration system we have today. Millions of people who live here without paying their taxes or playing by the rules, while politicians use the issue to whip up votes at election time, thats the real amnesty. Leaving this broken system the way it is. Mass amnesty would be unfair. Mass deportation would be both impossible and contrary to our character. What im describing is accountability. A commonsense middle ground approach. If you meet the criteria, you can come out of the shadows and get right with the law. If youre a criminal, youll be deport. If you plan to enter the u. S. Illegally, your chance of getting caught and sent back just went up. The actions im taking are not only lawful, theyre the kinds of actions taken by every single republican president and every single democratic president for the past half century. To those members of congress who question my authority to make our immigration system work better, or question the wisdom of me acting where congress has failed, i have one answer pass a bill. I want to work with both parties to pass a more permanent legislative solution. And the day i signed that bill into law, the actions i take will no longer be necessary. Meanwhile, dont let a disagreement over a single issue be a deal breaker on every issue. Thats not how our democracy works. And Congress Certainly shouldnt shut down our government again just because we disagree on this. Americans are tired of gridlock. What our country needs from us right now is a common purpose. A higher purpose. Most americans support the types of reforms ive talked about tonight. But i understand the disagreements held by many of you at home. Millions of us, myself included, go back generations in this country. With ancestors who put in the painstaking work to become citizens. So we dont like the notion that anyone might get a free bass to american citizenship. I know some worry immigration will change the very fabric of who we are. Or take our jobs. Or stick it to middle class families at a time when they already feel like theyve gotten a raw deal for over a decade. I hear those concerns. But thats not what these steps would do. Our history, and the facts show that immigrants are a net plus for our economy and our society. I believe its important all of us have this debate without impugning each others character. Because for all the backandforth of washington, we have to remember that this debate is about something bigger. Its about who we are as a country, and who we want to be for future generations. Are we a nation that tolerates the hypocrisy of a system where workers who pick our fruit and make our beds never have a chance to get right with the law . Or are we a nation that gives them a chance to make amends, take responsibility, and give their kids a Better Future . Are we a nation that accepts the cruelty of ripping children from their parents arms, or are we a nation that values families, and works together to keep them together . Are we a nation that educates the worlds best and brightest in our universities, only to send them home to create businesses in countries that compete against us . Or are we a nation that encourages them to stay and create jobs here, create businesses here, create industries right here in america . Thats what this debate is all about. We need more than politics as usual when it comes to immigration. We need reasoned, thoughtful, compassionate debate that focuses on our hopes, not our fears. I know the politics of this issue are tough. But let me tell you why i have come to feel so strongly about it. Over the past years ive seen the determination of immigrant fathers who worked two or three jobs, without taking a dime from the government, and at risk any moment of losing it all, just to build a better life for their kids. Ive seen the heart break and anxiety of children whose mothers might be taken away from them, just because they didnt have the right papers. Ive seen the courage of students who except for the circumstances of their birth are as american as malia or sasha, students who bravely come out as undocumented in hopes they could make a difference in the country they love. These people, our neighbors, our classmates, our friends, they did not come here in search of a free ride or an easy life. They came to work. And study. And serve in our military. And above all, contribute to americas success. Now, tomorrow ill travel to las vegas and meet with some of these students, including a young woman named astrid silva. She was brought to america when she was 4 years old. Her only possessions were a cross, her doll, and the frilly dress she had on. When she started school, she didnt speak any english. She caught up to other kids by reading newspapers and watching pbs. And she became a good student. Her father worked in landscaping, her mom cleaned other peoples homes. They wouldnt let astrid apply to a technology school, not because they didnt love her, but because they were afraid the paperwork would out her as an undocumented immigrant. So she applied behind their back and got in. Mostly she lived in the shadows. Until her grandmother, who visited every year from mexico, passed away. And she couldnt travel to the funeral without risk of being found out and deported. It was around that time she decided to begin advocating for herself and others like her, and today astrid silva is a College Student working on her third degree. Are we a nation that kicks out a striving, hopeful immigrant like astrid . Or are we a nation that finds a way to welcome her in . Scripture tells us that we shall not oppress a stranger. For we know the heart of a stranger. We were strangers once, too. My fellow americans, we are and always will be a nation of immigrants. We were strangers once, too. And whether our forbearers were strangers who crossed the atlantic or the pacific or the rio grande, we are here only because this country welcomed them in, and taught them that to be an american is about something more than what we look like, or what our last names are, or how we worship. What makes us americans is our shared commitment to an ideal. That all of us are created equal. And all of us have the chance to make of our lives what we will. Thats the country our parents and grandparents and generations before them built for us. Thats the tradition we must uphold. Thats the legacy we must leave for those who are yet to come. Thank you. God bless you. And god bless this country we love. And that is the president of the united states, speaking from the east room of the white house, live, on his new proposals for immigration. The president Just Announced historic executive action to change the immigration laws. Very controversial. The republicans are very upset about this. This means about 5 Million People will be eligible for legal status. Anyone with a criminal record will not be eligible. The president said he wants to deport felons, not families. The president defended his actions, saying he has the Legal Authority to do this, and challenges those in congress to pass a bill if they oppose it. We showed you a little while ago, our lady of guadalupe of church just wrapping up. Well have reaction from both sides of this issue. Stay tuned. That is coming up at 6 00. Were going to move on now with other news of the day. Still ahead, is pg e going to pay up . An email scandal further engulfs the utility. Todays new fine and a group of students took over wheeler hall to protest a tuition hike this morning. And a short time later regents voted to increase fees by 5 every year for the next five years. Thats about 614 a year in increases. Right now, theres an event going on in front much the building. Leann . Reporter dan, so much for the assembly. The weather being a factor. But i will say inside, students have said that they will continue to occupy wheeler hall until the regents reverse their decision, their vote. For now, thats not going to happen. So there may be a confrontation between students and police. Although i have to say, the university has taken the position of not interfering with protesters. Be ready to fight reporter uc students were forced to leave the regents meeting for disrupting todays vote. There were no surprises. The full board voted 147 in favor of increasing tuition by 5 every year over five years. Yes. No. Reporter the regents agreed with the president Janet Napolitano in that the funding increases coming from prop 30 are not enough. We care about preserving the academic quality of the university of california. And any other messages, we need more support in the state of california. Reporter it was approved by voters two years ago. It raises taxes to fund education. Governor brown said the money would be guaranteed if uc kept tuition for four years. Some are wondering if the regents decision could backfire in sacramento. Lieutenant governor gavin newsom predicted the governor would not take any punitive action against uc. Im confident hell commit himself to looking to Additional Resources with Strings Attached of the you cant just provide money for the status quo. This is not a financially Sustainable Business model. Reporter instead assembly seeker tony atkins vowed to look for more funding to avoid any future tuition increases. The former speaker, john parris, said uc acted prematurely. If you look this week, new reports indicate that revenues are up 2 billion, while the projections, this should give us a sense of optimism of what is possible. Reporter students were less optimistic and continued to occupy wheeler hall. Abc 7 news. Pg e has to pay a 1 million fine for sending secret emails to two state public utility commissioners. That was the ruling today. The Commission Also ordered pg e shareholders to pay about a third, or 400 million of a planned gas rate increase. Thats to partially cover upgrades to the utility gas pipeline and transmission system. A pg e spokesperson said the sanctions are unwarranted and that they will appeal the decision. It is not nearly enough, but great to see significant rain around here. Checking all of that. Sandhya . Weve got drenched today. Weve seen multiple lightning strikes off the coast and already moving in over the San Mateo County area. Right now, were looking at lightning strikes that just occurred near pass ka dero, honda, brief downpours not out of the question. Still some cells off the coastline. So just watch out. Some pockets of moderate rain right across the north bay. Parts of the east bay as we take you in a little closer here. Richmond, mill valley, out toward berkeley, walnut creek, you will see some pretty good rain. Sierra nevada, the highest elevations turning to snow. Its not snow at tahoe or blue canyon, its been raining there. Rainfall totals, speaking of, just under half an inch in oakland, san francisco, third of an inch in santa rosa. Livermore picked up. 11. Temperatures right now, in the 50s across the entire bay area. And heres a live look from the exploratorium camera. Showers tonight. Slight chance of thunderstorms. This is just really for the next few hours. Areas of fog overnight tonight. It will get wet again saturday morning, as the third system comes in. Heres the cold front that is pushing through. Now, showers will be ending later on this evening. And we will see a break for your friday. More rain on saturday. But this is a warmer storm. So the snow levels in the Sierra Nevada will be rising, mainly rain on saturday up in the high country. 11 00 p. M. Tomorrow night, cloud cover, maybe a few sprinkles around cloverdale. Saturday morning, hopefully many of you will be asleep when the rain is coming through. Light to moderate at 6 00 a. M. Across the heart of the bay area. 11 00 a. M. , pretty much down south of us, gone. By 1 00 youre starting to see sunny breaks. Which is great for the big game if youre going. Low to mid60s on saturday at memorial stadium. Tomorrow morning, watch out for the fog. And make sure you bundle up. It will start out on the cool side. Low 40s to low 50s tomorrow afternoon. Temperatures will be in the low to mid60s. Youll hit a mostly cloudy day. Rainy saturday morning, dry for sunday. And then were just going to warm it up a little bit each and every day heading towards the middle of next week. Right now, thanksgiving just looks cooler and foggier,