The Trump Administration recently dealt another economic blow to undocumented immigrants living in America illegally by requiring prompt repayment of any taxpayer welfare benefits.
A memo released by President Trump revives a pair of long-standing laws signed by President Clinton in 1996 called the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act and Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. Under these laws, anyone who sponsors an immigrant through the Green Card process would be required to take financial responsibility for any taxpayer-funded government subsidiaries.
Although the mandate has never been actively enforced, the president views the issue as yet another loophole being used to bilk hard-working Americans.
“Despite it being required under long-standing law, sponsors have never been held accountable for the public benefits taken by immigrants,” a Trump Administration official reportedly said. “This should be a reminder that signing an affidavit of support as a sponsor is both a promise and responsibility the government takes very seriously and will carry real consequences so that taxpayers don’t bear this burden for them.”
Acting United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) director Ken Cuccinelli reportedly circulated a directive that the federal agency would begin notifying the sponsors of legal immigrants that repayment would be required during the Green Card process.
“Officers will now be required to remind individuals at their adjustment of status interviews of their sponsors’ responsibilities under existing law and regulations. Our officers must remind applicants and sponsors that the Affidavit of Support is a legal and enforceable contract between the sponsor and the federal government. The sponsor must be willing and able to financially support the intending immigrant as outlined by law and regulations,” the USCIS guidance reportedly states.
“Over the next several months, federal agencies will develop and implement guidance on the presidential memorandum to make sure that agencies enforce these requirements.”
The Trump administration has enjoyed widespread success using financial strategies to curve policy toward the best interests of American citizens. One example of this is President Trump’s recent tariff standoff with Mexico, which resulted in our southern neighbor vigorously enforcing its own illegal immigration rules and disbanding so-called migrant caravans bent on infiltrating U.S. borders.
The crackdown on welfare manipulation is expected to become a swift deterrent.
“The President has made it a priority to ensure that every individual who seeks to come to the United States is self-sufficient, temporarily or permanently. The principle of self-sufficiency has been enshrined in our immigration laws since the 1800s, and we as an agency must ensure that immigrants who become part of this great country abide by this principle,” Cuccinelli reportedly tweeted.
President Trump wants to change existing immigration laws to make it illegal for new immigrants to receive welfare benefits. Trump’s proposed changes would ban immigrants from taking welfare money for the first ten years after they emigrate to America.
Research indicates that upwards of 63 percent of non-citizens receive some type of taxpayer-funded welfare benefit. Since the U.S. began its economic resurgence under the Trump Administration, more than 5 million American have gone back to work and off food stamps. Despite a significant decline in American poverty and joblessness, Democrat-held states continue to attract foreigners by promoting lucrative welfare incentives actively.
In California, Democrats are expected to pass a bill that would provide “free healthcare” to illegal immigrants. The bill is expected to cost California taxpayers almost $100 million.
Despite a disgraceful homeless problem that includes too many military veterans, California Governor Gavin Newsom is expected to sign the bill giving more rights to illegal aliens than the citizens he was elected to serve.
California already gives illegal alien children free healthcare and costs taxpayers in the state $39 million a year. Under the Trump Administration’s policy enforcement, illegal immigrants would be deemed ineligible for any taxpayer-funded welfare benefit.
Early estimates indicate that rule enforcement by the Trump Administration would result in lowering the $57.4 billion in taxes used toward illegal immigrant welfare and crime. Reports show that the use of foreign-born household welfare tallies up to more than $6,200 on average between cash, housing, and healthcare. Acting USCIS director Cuccinelli confirmed that federal agencies are preparing to close loopholes and enforce the administration’s America First policies.
“We continue to advance the President’s directive to enforce the public charge ground of inadmissibility, which seeks to ensure that immigrants are self-sufficient and rely on their own capabilities and the resources of their families, their sponsors, and private organizations rather than public resources,” Cuccinelli reportedly said.
