Obama to delay immigration action

White House officials say President Barack Obama has decided to delay any executive action on immigration until after the November congressional elections.

The officials say Obama believes taking steps on his own during the midterm campaign would politicise the issue and hurt future efforts to pass a broad overhaul.

The officials say Obama believes he has the power to authorise certain measures to ease deportations without congressional legislation. And they say he still will act before the end of the year.

The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the president's decision before it was announced.

Obama faces competing pressures from immigration advocacy groups and from Democrats worried that taking steps now would energise Republican opposition against vulnerable Senate Democrats.