President Obama has made an emotional pitch to President-elect Donald Trump not to reverse his executive actions that have shielded immigrants brought here illegally as children from deportation.

He told Democrats in a closed door meeting he felt strongly about the issue in personal terms, and apparently has made a similar appeal to his successor.

The issue is politically fraught and was central to Democratic appeals to Hispanic voters in their opposition to Trump's election.

'He said ... he felt very strongly about this and he understood former presidents are supposed to step back from the field, but he said this one means so much to him personally that he would not step away from the responsibility of saying something if necessary,' Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois told NBC.

Durbin said he asked Obama about the issue during a caucus meeting where Democrats strategized about how to protect Obamacare from Republican repeal.

President Obama has urged President-elect Donald Trump not to deport DREAMers – children brought here illegally by their parents, according to lawmakers

'His message was, those are good kids who didn't do anything wrong,' a lawmaker told Politico. 'That was heartfelt. He brought that up,' the lawmaker added. Obama 'spoke to Trump very directly' about the issue, according to the publication.

The two men met in person at the White House and have had multiple phone conversations since.

Obama's personal plea stands in contrast to how the White House said he would proceed when it comes to his namesake legacy of Obamacare.

'It's time for somebody else to pick up the mantle,' White House press secretary Josh Earnest said, when discussing whether Obama planned to defend the law after he leaves the White House.

Obama signed the executive actions, called DACA, to protect the DREAMers after the collapse of bipartisan immigration reform legislation in 2012. Democrats including Hillary Clinton featured the move in their campaigns, while Trump vowed to reverse Obama's actions.

Trump called for reversing Obama's immigration actions during the elections, but has soften his rhetoric in more recent comments

US President Barack Obama signs two Presidential Memoranda associated with his Executive Actions on immigration in his office on board Air Force One in Las Vegas, Nevada, November 21, 2014

Immigration reform supporters rally outside of the Supreme Court as oral arguments are heard on President Obama's executive actions which would help defer deportation for undocumented people in April

Illinois senator Richard Durbin said Obama told Democrats he 'felt very strongly' about the immigration issue

Obama took additional actions to protect the parents of immigrant children who are U.S. citizens, but none of the moves have the force of permanent law.

Trump sounded open to the appeal during an interview with Time magazine last month, despite his vows to reverse Obama on the issue.

'We're going to work something out that's going to make people happy and proud,' Trump said.