In an effort to curb illegal immigration, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, has signed an executive order focused on eliminating federal benefits for those residing in the country without legal permission.
The intention behind this order is to end any use of taxpayer funds to assist those living in the country unlawfully, although specifics on which benefits will be curtailed are not yet clear.
Generally, individuals without legal status do not receive federal benefits, with exceptions for emergency medical services. Moreover, under a 1982 supreme court decision, children are entitled to free public education from kindergarten through 12th grade, irrespective of their immigration status.
The executive order references a 1996 welfare reform law, which initially set limitations on public benefits for unauthorized immigrants, but suggests that the law has been gradually weakened over time.
According to the order, the previous administration compromised this law significantly, resulting in considerable taxpayer resources being improperly spent.
This move appears to aim at reversing actions by former President Joe Biden, who had used his parole powers extensively.
Under Biden’s administration, more than 900,000 individuals gained temporary entry into the U.S. via an online appointment system known as CBP One at border crossings with Mexico, in addition to over 500,000 people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela entering the country. These programs have since been halted by Trump.
