Despite executive amnesty, many illegal immigrants still fear deportation

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last updated 8 January 2015

There are an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants currently living in the U.S. While five million of them were recently shielded from deportation thanks to President Obama's executive action, that still leaves more than half of those living here illegally in danger of being kicked out.

Gay immigrants, other adults without children, those who arrived within the last five years, those whose children were born outside the U.S., and those with criminal records are ineligible for the benefits granted to the five million who qualify because they have been in the U.S. for at least five years and have a child that is either a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident.