Two federal agencies are preventing illegal immigrants from accessing taxpayer-funded programs with the goal of ensuring U.S. taxpayer dollars only serve American citizens.
The Departments of Health and Human Services and Education both announced plans to limit taxpayer subsidization of illegal aliens in compliance with federal law. The moves are part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to disincentivize illegal immigration and prevent taxpayer dollars from supporting it.
HHS is barring illegal immigrants from receiving public benefits by rescinding a Clinton-era interpretation of the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA). The Clinton administration’s 1998 policy allowed illegal aliens to access congressionally mandated programs. Now, the Trump administration is reinterpreting PRWORA to ensure enrollment in programs including Head Start is reserved for American citizens.
Head Start is a well-known HHS program that provides early childhood education, nutrition, and other services to low-income kids. HHS projects that American citizens could receive an extra $374 million of Head Start services annually due to the rule change.
“For too long, the government has diverted hardworking Americans’ tax dollars to incentivize illegal immigration,” HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a statement.
“Today’s action changes that—it restores integrity to federal social programs, enforces the rule of law, and protects vital resources for the American people.”
Numerous other HHS programs related to mental and behavioral health, substance abuse, education, and community services will also be reserved for American citizens from this point forward, HHS said.
“Alongside HHS, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is committed to providing and protecting resources that serve America’s most vulnerable,” said acting Assistant Secretary Andrew Gradison.
“Head Start’s classification under the new PRWORA interpretation puts American families first by ensuring taxpayer-funded benefits are reserved for eligible individuals.”
Separately, the Education Department said it will no longer subsidize illegal immigrants through career, technical, and adult education programs. The agency is similarly rescinding the Clinton-era interpretation of PRWORA to prohibit illegal aliens from getting public benefits. It also ensures the Education Department’s postsecondary programs such as Pell Grants remain inaccessible to illegal immigrants.
“Postsecondary education programs funded by the federal government should benefit American citizens, not illegal aliens,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, hardworking American taxpayers will no longer foot the bill for illegal aliens to participate in our career, technical, or adult education programs or activities. The Department will ensure that taxpayer funds are reserved for citizens and individuals who have entered our country through legal means who meet federal eligibility criteria.”
The Education Department’s new interpretation of PRWORA clarifies that federal postsecondary education programs and other similar programs fall under PRWORA requirements for federal public benefit eligibility. Under the Clinton administration, programs for career, technical, and adult edudcation were exempted from PRWORA’s rules limiting eligibility for federal public benefit programs to American citizens, permanent residents, and “qualified aliens.”
The Trump administration’s moves follow an executive order President Trump signed in February, “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders,” directing agencies to prevent federal programs from being made available to illegal immigrants. Trump’s order was one of many executive actions he has taken since the start of his term to crack down on illegal immigration through deportations and enhanced border security.