The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sent a letter to state administrators of the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program, reminding them it is prohibited to provide benefits to illegal aliens.
Following up on guidance given to government leaders earlier this month, the new letter focuses on TANF — a program designed to help low-income families with children achieve economic security and stability — and its statute, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA), which limits TANF and other federal public benefits to qualified aliens. States use TANF block grant funds to provide cash assistance to eligible families as well as to provide a wide range of services, including work-related activities and work support, designed to accomplish the program’s statutory purposes.
“I want to remind you that, as a TANF agency, you are responsible for ensuring that sub-recipients and contractors follow all applicable laws related to the use of TANF funds, including prohibitions against providing benefits to illegal aliens,” wrote ACF Acting Assistant Secretary Andrew Gradison. “ACF will be using all available options, including direct oversight, as well as providing targeted technical assistance, to ensure compliance on prohibitions against grantees or subgrantees providing direct benefits to illegal aliens, or any actions that contravene PRWORA and President Trump’s Executive Order.”
The Executive Order , “Ending Taxpayer Subsidizations of Open Borders,” was issued by President Trump last month. The guidance to TANF administrators instructs them to “take all necessary actions to align your program with the Executive Order’s provisions and federal statutes and regulations concerning restrictions on permitting illegal aliens to obtain cash or non-cash federal public benefits.”
“I will enforce the law to ensure illegal aliens do not receive federal benefits. Under President Trump’s leadership we will end the incentive for illegal immigrants to come to America and collect benefits,” said Gradison.
To see the letter sent by ACF to TANF administrators, visit here.
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Quick Facts
- The new letter focuses on TANF – a program designed to help low-income families with children achieve economic security and stability – and its statute, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA), which limits TANF and other federal public benefits to qualified aliens.
- The Executive Order, “Ending Taxpayer Subsidizations of Open Borders,” was issued by President Trump last month. The guidance to TANF administrators instructs them to “take all necessary actions to align your program with the Executive Order’s provisions and federal statutes and regulations concerning restrictions on permitting illegal aliens to obtain cash or non-cash federal public benefits.”
Quotes
“I want to remind you that, as a TANF agency, you are responsible for ensuring that sub-recipients and contractors follow all applicable laws related to the use of TANF funds, including prohibitions against providing benefits to illegal aliens. ACF will be using all available options, including direct oversight, as well as providing targeted technical assistance, to ensure compliance on prohibitions against grantees or subgrantees providing direct benefits to illegal aliens, or any actions that contravene PRWORA and President Trump’s Executive Order.”— ACF Acting Assistant Secretary Andrew Gradison
“I will enforce the law to ensure illegal aliens do not receive federal benefits. Under President Trump’s leadership we will end the incentive for illegal immigrants to come to America and collect benefits.— ACF Acting Assistant Secretary Andrew Gradison
Additional Links
Contact
Administration for Children & Families
Office of Communications
330 C Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Phone: (202) 401-9215
Fax: (202) 205-9688
Email: media@acf.hhs.gov