[Headline USA] A report by the Center for Immigration Studies unveiled that 59 percent of households led by illegal immigrants use at least one major taxpayer-funded welfare program, far higher than the 39 percent of U.S.-born households. Authored by CIS analysts Steven Camarota and Karen Zeigler, the study relied on newly released data from the 2022 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), shedding light on the burden carried by U.S. taxpayers by illegal immigration.
Government-funded social programs typically are not offered to illegal aliens. However, those with children born in the U.S. can bypass these restrictions by accessing benefits provided to their children, CIS reported.
The report highlighted that some U.S. states offer Medicaid to some adult illegal aliens and children, with other states providing SNAP, commonly known as food stamps.
The 59 percent figure refers to non-citizen households, including those conformed by permanent residents (also known as green card holders) and illegal immigrants.
"Our best estimate is that 59 percent of households headed by illegal immigrants, also called the undocumented, use at least one major program," the report read, before warning that there is no evidence of fraud tied to the benefits.
The rate among legal immigrants is equally higher than U.S.-born households, standing at approximately 52 percent.