The U.S. Justice Department has warned states they could lose billions of dollars in welfare funding if they fail to report immigrants known to state agencies who are in the country illegally.
The warning, issued on Wednesday by the DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel, marks a significant expansion of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts.
Under the new interpretation, states receiving funding for two major welfare programmes must report people unlawfully present in the U.S. to the Department of Homeland Security.
Previously, the requirement applied only to agencies directly administering the programmes. The new guidance could extend it to other state agencies that may have information about immigrants, including universities and departments of motor vehicles.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Joshua Craddock said failure to comply could result in the loss of federal funding.
The programmes include Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Supplemental Security Income. Federal TANF grants exceed $16.5 billion a year, while federal SSI benefits total more than $60 billion.
Immigrants without legal status are not eligible for either programme.
The opinion is not law but is binding on federal agencies. It could face legal challenges from Democratic-led states, several of which have already challenged the administration's efforts to expand access to personal information held by state agencies.
At least 19 states and Washington, D.C., allow immigrants without lawful status to obtain driver's licences, while some state universities also admit such students, potentially giving state agencies access to information about millions of people without legal immigration status.
Saudi Aramco has ordered staff to evacuate its headquarters amid escalating Houthi attacks on the kingdom. Two people were killed in an attack on D...
Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight killed at least two people and injured 15 others, including two children, Ukrainian authorities said.&nbs...
Azerbaijani families of people missing since the Garabagh conflict have taken their appeal to EU officials in Brussels, calling for greater interna...
Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight killed at least two people and injured 15 others, including two children, Ukrainian authorities said. Meanwhile, Russia said it had intercepted the vast majority of 630 Ukrainian drones launched towards Moscow.
Russia is willing in principle to resume peace talks with Ukraine and the United States in November, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said after President Vladimir Putin met U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg.
Saudi Aramco has ordered staff to evacuate its headquarters amid escalating Houthi attacks on the kingdom. Two people were killed in an attack on Dammam airport, while Iran's IRGC Navy claimed strikes on seven vessels and warned the U.S. of a wider response.
Yemen's Houthis have denied targeting the holy city of Medina on Wednesday adding that they have not conducted any military operations towards Saudi Arabia either, denying earlier comments from the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.
Georgia’s Constitutional Court in Batumi will on Wednesday hear a lawsuit seeking to ban five Georgian opposition parties, four of which collectively gained 784,820 votes (37.79 per cent) in the country’s last national elections in 2024.
Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight killed at least two people and injured 15 others, including two children, Ukrainian authorities said. Meanwhile, Russia said it had intercepted the vast majority of 630 Ukrainian drones launched towards Moscow.
Almost all of Taiwan shut down on Friday ahead of the arrival of Typhoon Champi, which is forecast to bring strong winds and torrential rain, and though the storm is weakening it could still make direct landfall on the island.
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order expanding access to tax-exempt diesel as soaring fuel prices frustrate voters ahead of the midterm elections. But farmers say using the fuel on public roads is too risky, while many other drivers cannot get hold of it.
The FIFA U-20 World Cup 2027 will take place from 17 September to 9 October next year in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced on Friday.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that ‘illegitimate’ protests would be banned in the coming days. He blamed ‘seditious’ ultra-left groups and vandals for last weekend’s riots and looting, as authorities prepare for fresh demonstrations on Saturday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment