Data from the US Census Bureau indicates that undocumented immigrants can exploit taxpayer-funded welfare benefits.
Amid ongoing federal government closures, media sources and Democratic leaders continue to assert that undocumented immigrants cannot access these taxpayer-funded programs.
House Speaker Mike Johnson stated, “Democrats have misleadingly claimed they wish to expand healthcare services to undocumented immigrants, which is false. These individuals are not eligible for federal health programs,” during a CNN segment on Thursday.
This narrative is meant to counter claims from Republicans, who argue that the government shutdown is a result of Democrats’ attempts to reverse policies preventing undocumented immigrants from receiving taxpayer-funded medical benefits.
Analysis from the Census Bureau’s Income and Program Participation Survey (SIPP) offers a different perspective. Regardless of the Trump administration’s efforts, undocumented immigrants sometimes do gain access to welfare benefits.
A report from CIS researcher analyzed SIPP data regarding undocumented immigrant households. It reveals that eligible applicants can, in fact, access cash aid, food stamps, Medicaid, and housing vouchers.
“59% of households headed by undocumented immigrants rely on welfare, while just 20% of undocumented immigrants do so,” stated Jason Richwine in a report he authored in March.
Richwine elaborated, noting that the legal residents in these households often help mitigate the financial gap. “For instance, only 1% of heads of undocumented households receive Medicaid—typically in emergency situations—but when considering all household members, that figure increases to 39%.”
Richwine further explained that undocumented immigrants often access welfare benefits by applying through their US citizen children or relatives.
A memo from the White House recently suggested that the Democratic push to reopen the government could lead to nearly $200 billion in medical benefits funded by taxpayers for undocumented immigrants.
