The vast majority of undocumented immigrants in the United States could be able to stay in this country with the implementation of new policy guidance on priorities for deportation which will be in effect July 1.

According to a report released Thursday by the Migration Policy Institute (MPI), 87 percent of undocumented immigrants — out of an overall population estimated at 11 million — would have a degree of protection under guidelines announced by the Obama administration in November.

The remaining 13 percent of undocumented immigrants (1.4 million) have previous criminal convictions or immigration histories that would make them a priority for deportation under the new policy.

By comparison, about 27 percent of undocumented immigrants (3 million) would have been considered deportation  priorities under previous guidelines. 

The new guidelines were announced by the president last November along with a series of executive actions on immigration. The first one of the executive actions would expand the deferred action program for undocumented youth (DACA) implemented in 2012 by allowing an additional number of "dreamers" to apply for a protection from deportation and a work permit. The second one, known as DAPA, would allow parents of American citizens or residents to apply for the same protections.

The president’s executive actions were blocked in March by a Federal Judge in Texas following a lawsuit by a coalition of 26 states. And in May a federal court of appeals in Louisiana denied the administration’s request to lift the hold.