Donald Trump is at the centre of a frantic bipartisan lobbying campaign as he neared a decision on the fate of hundreds of thousands of young people brought into the country illegally as children.

Key points: Donald Trump made campaign pledges to end the DACA program

Donald Trump made campaign pledges to end the DACA program Paul Ryan is most senior Republican figure to urge him not to scrap the program

Paul Ryan is most senior Republican figure to urge him not to scrap the program CEOs, Roman Catholic bishops and celebrities have urged President to support children of illegal immigrants

After months of dragging his feet, the US President this week is expected to announce his plans for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) which has given nearly 800,000 young immigrants the ability to work legally in the country and a reprieve from deportation.

Despite his fiery pledges during the presidential campaign to end the program, Mr Trump has spent the last week considering his policy, going over his options again and again, according to several people with knowledge of the deliberations.

The people spoke to AP on condition of anonymity in order to discuss private conversations.

House Speaker Paul Ryan is the most senior Republican figure to urge Mr Trump not to scrap the program introduced by previous Democratic president Barack Obama.

"I actually don't think he should do that, and I believe that this is something Congress has to fix," Mr Ryan said.

What is a Dreamer? A child of unauthorised immigrants to the US

A child of unauthorised immigrants to the US Many have gone to school in the US and identify as American

Many have gone to school in the US and identify as American Takes its name from an unpassed 2001 bill that would allow pathway to US citizenship

Takes its name from an unpassed 2001 bill that would allow pathway to US citizenship Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was designed to provide relief from threat of deportation

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was designed to provide relief from threat of deportation A two-year, renewable DACA authorisation allows for reprieve from deportation, work rights, drivers' licence and bank accounts Source: National Immigration Law Centre

Mr Ryan added that while he believed Mr Obama exceeded his authority in creating DACA by executive order, bypassing Congress, there are now "people who are in limbo".

"These are kids who know no other country, who were brought here by their parents and don't know another home," he said.

"So I really do believe that there needs to be a legislative solution. That's one that we're working on."

Mr Ryan along with senator Orrin Hatch joined a small but growing number of Republican party politicians to speak out against scrapping the program.

"We also need a workable, permanent solution for individuals who entered our country unlawfully as children through no fault of their own and who have built their lives here," he said.

Nancy Pelosi, the top House Democrat, said she was "heartened" by Mr Ryan's comments and asked him to meet with Democratic politicians next week to discuss a "comprehensive legislative solution".

The President also encountered countervailing pressure from those working to keep the program — including CEOs, Roman Catholic bishops and celebrities — and staging daily protests, phone banks, demonstrations and letters.

Trump thinks 'Dreamers are terrific'

Many DACA advocates still expect the President to announce, in the end, that he will stop the issuance of new work permits under the program, effectively phasing it out over the coming months.

One person familiar with the White House discussions said Mr Trump was expected to take that route. But the person said the President was looking for ways to soften the blow, such as ending the program at a future date to give Congress time to come up with alternative protection.

Mr Trump seemed reluctant on Friday to spark the anger that is sure to erupt no matter what he decides.

"We love the Dreamers, we love everybody," he said.

Asked what he would say to young immigrants who are awaiting his move, scared about their fate, Mr Trump replied: "I think the dreamers are terrific."

About 200 Dreamers and their supporters turned out on Friday for a rally in downtown Los Angeles to urge national leaders not to end the program.

Dreamer Maria Carolina Gomez rallied in Los Angeles in support of the DACA program. ( AP: Damian Dovarganes )

Among them was Docnary Reyes, 21, who came to the United States from Guatemala with her parents in 1997 when she was a toddler.

Before obtaining DACA in 2014, Reyes had to work under-the-table cleaning apartments, she said.

Her work authorisation allowed her to obtain a paid internship last year working on a project involving cyanobacteria.

The Los Angeles resident will continue her education at the University of California, Davis, to study environmental restoration.

"I feel like I really care about our environment and not enough people do," Ms Reyes said.

AP/Reuters