ACF Identifying and Ending Welfare for Illegal Aliens

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sent a letter to state, tribal, territorial and local government agencies to inform them the Trump Administration is working to identify and cease taxpayer subsidies to illegal aliens in contravention of law.

In 1996, a major welfare reform law, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, explicitly prohibited illegal aliens from receiving subsidies via many federal programs, including welfare cash assistance, child care, foster care, and subsidized heat and air conditioning.

“Nearly three decades after the enactment of welfare reform, the promise of that law has been eroded. That ends now,” said ACF Acting Assistant Secretary Andrew Gradison.

The communication to states, grantees, and other government agencies follows through on President Trump’s executive order directing federal agencies to “identify all federally funded programs administered by the agency that currently permit illegal aliens to obtain any cash or non-cash public benefit, and, consistent with applicable law, take all appropriate actions to align such programs with the purposes of this order and the requirements of applicable federal law.”

"Illegal aliens have already violated United States law and we will not be spending taxpayer dollars to take care of their needs,” wrote Gradison. “President Trump’s executive order reaffirms this important national policy and puts the needs of Americans first. To implement the president’s executive order, ACF will use all available legal authority to end any incentives in human services programs that encourage illegal immigration.”

ACF provides federal leadership, partnership, and resources for the compassionate and effective delivery of human services to vulnerable populations to help families achieve prosperity and independence. Recipients of the new letter receive substantial federal tax dollars for dozens of ACF welfare programs.

“ACF will take all necessary measures to improve eligibility verification, deter fraud, and enforce the law by revoking grants to organizations that distribute benefits to illegal aliens in contravention of federal or state law,” wrote Gradison in the letter.

View the letter to state, tribal, territorial and local government partners.

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