Trump Officers Examine California Help for Undocumented Immigrants

The Trump administration introduced on Monday that it’s investigating a California program that has lengthy supplied money help to some undocumented immigrants who’re older or have disabilities however will not be eligible for federal help.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Los Angeles issued a subpoena to Los Angeles County requesting data that embrace the identities of people that utilized for the state’s Money Help Program for Immigrants, the Division of Homeland Safety introduced.

This system for many years has supplied subsistence-level advantages to impoverished residents 65 or older, in addition to those that are blind or have a incapacity.

California officers stated that this system, which has existed since 1998, is paid solely by state funds as a result of the federal authorities prohibits undocumented immigrants from receiving Supplemental Safety Revenue advantages. Solely sure immigrants qualify for this system, they famous, based mostly on their standing with the federal authorities.

The announcement was the newest indication that President Trump intends to make use of his federal powers to confront Democratic-led states that supply their very own advantages to undocumented immigrants.

“Radical left politicians in California prioritize unlawful aliens over our personal residents,” Kristi Noem, the secretary of the Division of Homeland Safety, stated in a press release.

“If you’re an unlawful immigrant, you need to go away now,” she added. “The gravy prepare is over. Whereas this subpoena focuses solely on Los Angeles County — it’s only the start.”

The Division of Homeland Safety stated on Monday that its investigation goals to find out if immigrants residing within the nation with out authorized standing obtained federal Supplemental Safety Revenue funds within the final 4 years. S.S.I. advantages are administered by the Social Safety Administration however separate from Social Safety funds which are based mostly on one’s work historical past.

California’s Money Help Program for Immigrants was created to assist weak residents who don’t qualify for S.S.I. due to their immigration standing.

The state funds allotted $239.6 million for this system within the fiscal yr that ends June 30, all from California’s basic fund, in response to the state’s Division of Finance. This system serves a median of 16,556 individuals every month throughout California. Los Angeles County’s funds for 2024-25 says that $115 million is being spent on the state-backed program there; that’s up 29 % since 2022 as a result of extra persons are taking part in this system.

Los Angeles County, the nation’s largest, is dwelling to 9.8 million individuals, together with an estimated 3.5 million immigrants, in response to a College of Southern California report. As of 2021, an estimated 809,500 residents within the county had been undocumented immigrants.