A significant analysis reveals that most households with children led by Afghan immigrants in the U.S. rely on taxpayer-funded welfare services.
According to a study released by Jason Richwine from the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), Census Bureau data indicates that the Afghan immigrant population has surged from 22,000 in 1990 to nearly 250,000 by 2024.
Importantly, census statistics show that almost all Afghan households with children receive some form of public welfare. This trend mirrors that of Somali immigrant households, particularly in Minnesota, where 81% access at least one welfare program.
The data reveals that 85% of Afghan households with children are recipients of various welfare supports. Specifically, 81% depend on Medicaid, while 61% utilize food stamps, and 15% receive cash assistance.
When comparing this situation to American-born households with children, the contrast is notable. Only 40% of these families benefit from welfare, with 37% utilizing Medicaid, 18% for food stamps, and a mere 7% receiving cash assistance.
Even without considering children, Afghan immigrant households still rely more heavily on welfare than both native-born Americans and other immigrant families in the U.S.
Overall, 72% of Afghan households access welfare: 68% for Medicaid, 47% for food stamps, and 14% for cash assistance.
In contrast, only 26% of American-born households use welfare, with 23% on Medicaid, 11% on food stamps, and 7% receiving cash assistance.
Richwine pointed out that the elevated welfare usage among Afghan immigrants, as supported by a recent federal study, could suggest potential fraud, as seen in the Somali immigrant community.
He notes, “The welfare utilization rates among Afghan immigrants are so elevated that this raises suspicions about possible fraud, similar to issues recently faced by the Somali community.”
Richwine added that if Congress aims to lower welfare usage among immigrants, it should consider reducing legal immigration from areas with high welfare dependency, like Afghanistan.
“To effectively diminish immigrant welfare spending, it’s necessary not just to tackle fraud, but also to limit the influx of new immigrants who often have low earning capabilities, as seen with many Afghans,” he stated.
Recently, the State Department also suspended processing visas from around 100 countries identified as sources of welfare-dependent immigrants, with Afghanistan being one of them, alongside Somalia.
