US citizens and legal immigrants would be swept up in GOP drive to keep ‘illegal aliens’ from getting government benefits

Republicans say they’re targeting government benefits for undocumented immigrants, but US citizens are likely to be impacted.

House Republicans are touting that their sweeping tax and spending cuts package would kick many “illegal immigrants” off federal assistance, fulfilling one of President Donald Trump’s top priorities. House Speaker Mike Johnson has repeatedly emphasized that the bill would stop 1.4 million “illegal aliens” from accessing Medicaid. The tax portion of the package has a section on “removing taxpayer benefits from illegal immigrants.” And the House Agriculture Committee crafted a provision to restrict food stamp eligibility for “illegal aliens.” However, undocumented immigrants in the US won’t be as heavily affected by the legislation since they already can’t access nearly all federal government assistance programs, experts say. Those more in danger of losing some benefits are millions of legal immigrants, as well as children who are citizens but whose parents may be undocumented or have various legal statuses. “It’s part of a campaign of misinformation,” said Tanya Broder, senior counsel of health and economic justice at the National Immigration Law Center. “This bill would deny eligibility to lawfully residing immigrants who have authorization to live and work in the US and who pay taxes that support the services that we all depend on.” The legislation, which is now in the Senate, where it may be changed, would greatly limit the categories of legal immigrants who can qualify for a variety of federal benefits, including the child tax credit, food stamps, Affordable Care Act subsidies and Medicare. It also takes aim at states that provide Medicaid-like coverage to undocumented immigrants with their own funds. Currently, immigrants’ eligibility for federal benefits depends on their status, of which there are many categories. Among those authorized to be in the US, certain groups can qualify right away, others must wait several years. Some immigrant children and pregnant women can access Medicaid sooner if states opt to allow them. But immigrants with other legal statuses do not qualify for any public assistance. (All of them must also meet the other eligibility criteria for the benefit programs, including income limits.)