By 2017, approximately 2 million illegal immigrants living inside the U.S. will be approved for deportation amnesty under President Barack Obama's new immigration plan and could start receiving certain federal benefits, according to a Congressional Budget Office report released Thursday.
Illegal aliens could start collecting Social Security and Medicare benefits and even be eligible for special tax breaks for low-income families, the report said.
Obama previously estimated that up to 5 million illegal immigrants would be eligible for amnesty, but the CBO predicts that only 2 to 2.5 million will be approved by 2017.
"Those who are approved for deferred action are considered lawfully present in the country but do not gain legal status," the report reads. "They can, and most do, receive authorization to work. Because they are lawfully present during the period of their deferred status, they are eligible to receive Medicare and Social Security benefits if they meet the programs' requirements."
"In addition, those individuals who are approved for deferred action and receive work authorization have Social Security numbers and therefore can claim the earned income tax credit if they qualify," the report says, noting that "they are ineligible for other federal benefit programs."
The U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday to overturn Obama's immigration amnesty actions from November, as well as a directive from 2012 that protects immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally as children, The Hill reported. The bill now heads to the Senate where it is likely to encounter resistance.
Obama has vowed to veto any bill restricting executive immigrant amnesty.
On Thursday, the Obama administration defended the executive action in a federal Texas court, where it asked a judge to reject a lawsuit filed by 25 states aimed at halting the program, reported The Washington Times. Judge Andrew S. Hanen said he will not rule before the end of January.
