President Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order aimed at eliminating federal benefits for undocumented migrants in the United States, describing the benefits as an improper use of taxpayer resources.
It was not immediately clear which programs would be affected by the order, which also instructed agencies and departments to identify federally funded benefits for people who are in the United States illegally.
Undocumented immigrants are largely not eligible for federal benefits, with only some exceptions allowed for emergency situations, and many immigrant families are hesitant to enroll in programs they are eligible for, according to the National Immigration Law Center.
The order was the latest in a flurry of actions Mr. Trump has taken on immigration since the start of his second term, including directives to prevent people from crossing into the United States illegally and to crack down on undocumented migrants already in the country.
Mr. Trump’s latest order would ensure that federal funds are not used to “incentivize or support illegal immigration,” the White House said. It also directs departments and agencies to ensure that federal funds are not used to support “sanctuary” policies.
That label is usually applied to states, counties or cities that have some limits on their cooperation with the federal agencies that deport undocumented immigrants.
The White House said Wednesday, without providing details, that undocumented migrants have qualified for various federal welfare programs, and accused the Biden administration of spending billions on supporting people who have entered the country illegally.
Undocumented immigrants have also contributed tens of billions to the Social Security system, according to an analysis published last year by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a left-leaning tax research group.