Obama deals with foreign leaders on immigration

While promoting his new immigration policies to domestic audiences, President Obama is also dealing with foreign leaders about the new rules.

In the past week, leaders from Mexico and Ireland have contacted Obama about immigration.

In a Wednesday phone call, Obama and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto "reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to work together in Central America to help address the underlying factors driving migration from the region to Mexico and the United States and deter migrant smuggling, including the smuggling of unaccompanied children," the White House said in a statement.

Last week, Obama announced plans to shield up to 5 million migrants in the country illegally from deportation.

While Democrats and immigration groups applauded the announcement, Republicans denounced the new policy as amnesty and an overreach of presidential power.

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

On Tuesday, the White House released a letter from Ireland leader Enda Kenny, who praised the new immigration policy and said he hopes that Congress will "now proceed to enact comprehensive reform."

In his letter to Obama, Kenny talked about Irish migrants in the United States:

"We have spoken about the tremendous human cost for our undocumented community arising from the inability to travel back to Ireland. I have shared with you some of the heartbreaking stories -- parents dying without seeing their children, funerals unattended, family milestones missed.

"I know that, for those covered by your executive action, there will be some capacity to travel home, and we understand that full details are to be worked out over the coming weeks."