You have your head in the sand if you think illegals don't get support from our government. Additionally, they come here and undercut the price of our labor and drive up housing costs for our citizens. You can say you don't care about those things and that is fine, but saying they don't get support from our government is a technicality at very best.
Undocumented immigrants (often referred to as "illegal aliens") in the United States are generally ineligible for most federal public benefits under laws like the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. This includes programs such as non-emergency Medicaid, SNAP (food stamps), TANF (cash welfare), and SSI (disability income). However, there are notable exceptions for emergencies, public health, and education, as well as indirect access through U.S.-citizen children in mixed-status households. Some states and localities also provide additional support using non-federal funds. Below are key ways government support reaches this population, based on federal rules and court precedents.1. Emergency Medical and Protective Services Undocumented immigrants can access federal funding for urgent, life-saving care without immigration status checks. This includes:
- Emergency Medicaid for treatments like labor/delivery, severe injuries, or acute conditions (e.g., costing billions annually in some estimates).
- Short-term disaster relief, such as FEMA aid after hurricanes or floods.
- Protective services like child welfare interventions, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and crisis counseling for mental health or substance abuse threats. These are available nationwide and do not count toward "public charge" determinations for future immigration applications.
2. Public Education for Children The Supreme Court's 1982 ruling in Plyler v. Doe guarantees free public K-12 education to all children in the U.S., regardless of immigration status, under the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. This applies to about 5 million undocumented or temporarily present children, costing states and the federal government (via funding formulas) an estimated $13-18 billion yearly in education expenses. It extends to preschool programs in some districts and includes English-language learner services. Undocumented parents cannot be denied enrollment based on their status or inability to provide proof of residency.3. Nutrition Assistance for Children and Pregnant Individuals Certain federally funded programs are open to undocumented participants, especially for minors:
- WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) provides food vouchers, nutrition education, and health screenings to low-income pregnant women and young children; all states allow undocumented access.
- National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs offer free or reduced-price meals to eligible schoolchildren, irrespective of family status—covering millions in mixed-status households. These do not require immigration verification and are administered through public schools or health departments.
4. Health Coverage for U.S.-Citizen Children In mixed-status families (where at least one child is a U.S. citizen), parents can apply for federal benefits solely for the child, without disclosing their own status. This includes:
- Medicaid and CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program) for citizen children's routine care, immunizations, and checkups—covering over 4 million such kids.
- Prenatal care in 22 states via CHIP, treating the fetus as the beneficiary. Applications focus only on the child's eligibility, and data isn't shared with immigration enforcement. States like California and New York use their own funds to extend similar coverage to undocumented children.
5. State and Local Programs Funded by Non-Federal Dollars While federal rules restrict access, about a dozen states (e.g., California, Illinois, New York) offer expanded benefits using state taxes, including:
- State-funded Medicaid-like coverage for low-income undocumented adults and children.
- Cash assistance or food aid analogs to TANF and SNAP.
- Driver's licenses, in-state tuition for higher education, and workforce training in states like Washington and Oregon. These vary widely; for example, five states plus D.C. subsidize health insurance marketplaces for all eligible immigrants.
6. Tax Credits and Refunds Undocumented immigrants who work (often using fake SSNs or ITINs) pay billions in federal, state, and local taxes annually—$96.7 billion in 2022 alone, including payroll taxes that fund Social Security (which they can't claim). In return, they can access limited refunds:
- Child Tax Credit (CTC) for U.S.-citizen children, potentially worth up to $2,000 per child if the parent files with an ITIN.
- They are ineligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) without a valid SSN, but this still represents indirect support via family tax relief. Overall, they receive far less in benefits than they contribute.
Critics argue these supports create a net fiscal burden (e.g., $150+ billion yearly when including education and emergencies), while advocates emphasize humanitarian needs and economic contributions. Eligibility can change with policy shifts, so checking state-specific resources is advisable.