Nursing home workers and other members of the country’s largest healthcare union praised President Barack Obama for allowing certain undocumented immigrants to obtain legal status through an executive action announced last Thursday.

Undocumented immigrants who have lived in the United States for at least five years and have children who are citizens or legal residents are eligible to “come out of the shadows” without fear of deportation, Obama said in a televised address announcing the executive order. They also would have to meet other criteria, such as passing a background check and paying taxes.

The administration is being “courageous,” according to George Gresham, president of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the largest U.S. union for healthcare workers. He said the organization will take concerted action to rally support for the White House’s approach.

“Whenever you have a group of workers who are being exploited and taken advantage of, who live in fear and have no rights, that drags down the standards for all working people,” Gresham stated in a press release.

Long-term care stakeholders have called for immigration reform, noting that there is a pressing need for more workers in nursing homes and other facilities.

The executive order also calls for tighter border security and an easier process for highly skilled workers to stay in the country.

Critics slammed the president for overstepping his authority, and some argued that he should have given Congress more time to act on this issue. A comprehensive immigration reform bill passed the Senate with bipartisan support nearly two years ago but has not been taken up in the GOP-controlled House of Representatives. Now, following the midterm elections, the Senate is about to shift to a Republican majority.

Obama addressed his critics directly in his speech, saying, “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.”