Hundreds of immigrant parents marched on the Dáil today to protest at changes in the law which make them liable to deportation despite having children born in the State.
Thousands of non-EU nationals with Irish-born children are now reliant on having temporary leave applications granted in order to stay with their children.
Mr Vincent Obogoh, the Nigerian father of a two-year-old son, Olisehemeka, born in Ireland, said he feared being sent home.
"My son is an Irish citizen because he was born here but how can he possibly grow up here without his parents if we are forced to leave?" he said.
"We could leave him here for the state to look after him but what right-minded parent would do that?"
The legislation was introduced by the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, amid claims that many refugees were coming to Ireland to have babies, thereby giving them EU residency rights.
Maternity hospitals have complained that the increasing number of pregnant immigrant women has put extra pressure on the health service.
Government officials estimated that 80 per cent of women of child-bearing age who sought asylum in 2001 were visibly pregnant when they lodged their claims.