U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) hailed the Obama administration's announcement that the government will stop deporting young illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and who do not pose a security threat.

In a statement, Schiff said the decision would "greatly benefit" those who "want to go to college but can’t, because their parents illegally brought them to the United States."

"This is an initiative - like the Dream Act - that I support, and will greatly benefit a number of students and service members throughout our community," Schiff said, Glendale News Press reported.

Effective immediately, young immigrants who arrived in the U.S. illegally before they turned 16 will be allowed to apply for work permits as long as they have no criminal history and meet other criteria, officials said.

Obama has called for a broad overhaul of immigration policy and embraces the concept of Dream Act legislation, which would create a path for immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children to legally remain in the country.

The legislation has repeatedly stalled in Congress.

At a press conference outside the White House, President Obama stressed that the order was temporary, but called on Congress to take more permanent action. "There's still time for Congress to pass the Dream Act," Obama said.