Government Benefits And Services Available To Undocumented Immigrants In The United States

Undocumented immigrants in the United States have access to a range of government benefits and services, despite their immigration status. This access has become a contentious political issue, with significant debate surrounding both the humanitarian aspects and the financial impact on American taxpayers. The Biden administration has seen record levels of immigration, with 2.4 million migrant crossings in fiscal year 2023 alone and more than 7 million entering since 2021. While some of these individuals have been returned or deported, many others have been processed and released into the United States, where they may become eligible for various forms of assistance.

Types of Government Benefits Available

Undocumented immigrants can access numerous government programs and benefits through a complex network of federal, state, and local initiatives. These benefits fall into several categories:

Food Assistance Programs

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps
• Child nutrition programs
• The total estimated cost to American taxpayers for providing SNAP to the children of illegal aliens is almost $5.8 billion annually

Cash Assistance Programs

• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• The total cost for providing TANF benefits to the U.S.-born children of illegal aliens comes out to approximately $1.43 billion
• Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
• Child Tax Credit (CTC)
• Illegal alien households received approximately $13.4 billion in child tax credits in 2022 for the 2021 tax year. After the elevated child tax credit expired in 2022, this amount is expected to be "in the area of $5.4 billion going forward."

Healthcare Benefits

• Medicaid
• Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
• Obamacare Premium Tax Credit
• Obamacare cost sharing subsidies
• The $16.2 billion increase in Medicaid-funded emergency services for illegal immigrants under the Biden-Harris administration reflects an "increase of 124% compared to the same period under the Trump Administration." This is on top of the executive action taken to provide $9 billion in Obamacare to illegal immigrants.

Housing and Educational Benefits

• Public housing
• Pell Grants
• Student loans
• Head Start

Other Benefits

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG)
• Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF)

Eligibility and Access to Benefits

The eligibility of undocumented immigrants for these benefits is complex and often depends on various factors, including the presence of U.S.-born children in the household. More than half of all illegal immigrant households have at least one U.S.-born child on behalf of whom they can receive benefits. There are nearly 2.7 million households with at least one illegal head and one child, and more than 5.3 million U.S.-born children of illegal aliens who hold Social Security numbers.

When undocumented immigrants arrive at the border, those who do not evade Border Patrol agents and are taken into custody are processed and, if not removed, are often released into the U.S. with a notice to appear at an immigration court. The backlog in these courts has reached nearly 3.6 million cases, meaning appearances are typically scheduled years in the future.

Many undocumented immigrants have spent thousands of dollars paying smugglers to guide them to the southern border and often have few resources upon arrival. While some can receive assistance from family members already living in the U.S., others cannot. Migrants who are released into the interior are currently unable to work legally until six months after they have filed a claim for asylum, though not all undocumented immigrants file such claims.

Financial Impact on Taxpayers

The provision of benefits to undocumented immigrants imposes a substantial financial burden on American taxpayers. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that by fiscal year 2034, outlays for "benefits provided to immigrants in the surge population and their children" will total $177 billion. This includes: - $59 billion for Obamacare Premium Tax Credits - $43 billion for the EITC and CTC - $40 billion for Medicaid and CHIP - $15 billion for Food Stamps - $13 billion for child nutrition programs - $4 billion for SSI

The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) estimates that federal expenditures on illegal aliens in 2023 totaled nearly $66.5 billion. These costs are projected to increase significantly as the number of undocumented immigrants in the country grows.

Political Debate and Proposed Changes

The provision of benefits to undocumented immigrants has become a central issue in the political debate over immigration policy. Critics argue that such benefits act as a pull factor for migrants, encouraging more people to enter the country illegally. As Lora Ries, director of the Heritage Foundation's Border Security and Immigration Center, stated: "Illegal aliens coming to America want five things: to enter the U.S.; stay here; work; send money home; and bring or have family here. All these benefits help illegal aliens stay in the U.S., so, yes, the benefits are a pull factor."

Another point of contention is the availability of legal services for civil deportation hearings, which some argue is a benefit that U.S. citizens do not receive. Given the millions coming to the U.S. under the Biden administration, critics warn that American taxpayers will see significant tax increases to pay for all these services.

In response to these concerns, Republicans have proposed legislation to restrict access to benefits for undocumented immigrants. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, has introduced the "America First Act," which would change the requirements outlined in the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act to explicitly exclude people in the country illegally, including those granted asylum, those who are paroled into the country, or people being withheld from deportation.

These individuals would not be eligible to receive welfare benefits, including participation in programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or certain housing benefits. As Sen. Lee stated: "For years, Americans have been told that illegal immigrants are barred from receiving federal benefits to distract from Washington's complete failure to secure our borders. This is a lie."

Legal Challenges and Controversial Compensation

The debate over benefits for undocumented immigrants has also extended to potential cash compensation. The Wall Street Journal reported that the Biden administration was considering payments of up to $450,000 each to illegal aliens who were caught illegally entering the country in 2018. A family of four could potentially receive almost $2 million under such a plan.

This proposal stemmed from a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on behalf of illegal-alien families who claimed their constitutional rights were violated in 2018 when they were detained, in accordance with U.S. immigration laws, without their children. President Biden initially called the reports "garbage" but later stated that such illegal immigrants "deserve some kind of compensation," creating confusion about the administration's position.

Conclusion

Undocumented immigrants in the United States have access to a wide range of government benefits and services, costing taxpayers billions of dollars annually. These benefits include food assistance, cash aid, healthcare, housing, and educational support. Eligibility often depends on factors such as the presence of U.S.-born children in the household.

The provision of these benefits remains a highly contentious political issue, with proponents arguing they fulfill humanitarian obligations and critics asserting they act as pull factors for illegal immigration and impose an unfair burden on American taxpayers. As the debate continues, proposed legislation like the "America First Act" seeks to restrict access to these benefits, while other discussions center on potential cash compensation for certain undocumented immigrants.

The financial impact of these benefits is substantial, with projections showing continued growth in expenditures as the undocumented population increases. The ongoing political and legal battles surrounding these issues will likely shape immigration policy and benefit eligibility for years to come.

Sources

1. Fox News - What Illegal Immigrants Can Get For Free in the United States
2. The Heritage Foundation - Cash for Illegal Immigrants? The New Low of Biden's Open Borders Push
3. Epic for America - Billions of Government Benefits for Illegal Aliens
4. American Enterprise Institute - Key Data on Federal Benefits Paid to Illegal Immigrant Households
5. Congressman Jodey Arrington's Office - Document on Benefits for Illegal Aliens