President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday night, Feb. 19, 2025, that aims to prevent undocumented immigrants from receiving federally funded benefits, reinforcing a key campaign promise to crack down on illegal immigration.
The order directs all federal agencies to identify programs that provide benefits to those in the country illegally and take “corrective action” to align with existing immigration laws, particularly the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA).
“My Administration will uphold the rule of law, defend against the waste of hard-earned taxpayer resources, and protect benefits for American citizens in need, including individuals with disabilities and veterans,” read the text of Trump’s order.
In his executive order, Trump claimed that the Biden administration consistently undercut the goals of the law, which resulted in huge costs to taxpayers. According to the president, these resources have acted as a “magnet” for migrants, “fueling illegal immigration to the United States.”
The 1996 welfare law already prohibits most undocumented immigrants from receiving federal benefits, with exceptions for emergency medical care and public education for children. However, the Trump administration contends that these restrictions have been “gradually undermined” over the years, particularly during the previous four years.
The order instructs government officials to ensure, consistent with applicable law, that federal payments to states and localities do not, by design or effect, facilitate the subsidization or promotion of illegal immigration or help “sanctuary” policies that seek to shield illegal aliens from deportation.
Trump has tasked the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire Elon Musk, with identifying “all other sources of Federal funding for illegal aliens” and recommending “additional agency actions to align Federal spending with the purposes of this order.” The order also demands that agencies refer any improper benefits going to undocumented immigrants to the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security for “appropriate action.”
The White House fact sheet on the executive order claims that American taxpayers spend billions annually on welfare for undocumented immigrants. The order cites figures from an advocacy group claiming that American taxpayers spend $182 billion annually on costs related to undocumented immigrants.
However, immigration policy experts present a more nuanced picture. According to The New York Times, “undocumented immigrants have contributed tens of billions to the Social Security system,” despite being ineligible for most benefits.
Critics of the order point out that most undocumented immigrants are already ineligible for federal benefits. According to NPR, “Immigrants without legal status generally do not qualify for federal benefits,” with some exceptions for emergency situations and programs like Medicaid and CHIP for those granted parole into the United States.
The National Immigration Law Center notes that the 1996 welfare laws created categories of “qualified” and “not qualified” immigrants, with most undocumented immigrants falling into the latter category and thus being ineligible for most public benefits. The organization also points out that immigrants face numerous barriers to accessing benefits, including confusion about eligibility rules, fear of being considered a “public charge,” and language barriers.
Trump’s executive order is part of a broader series of immigration-related actions since the start of his second term. Previous orders have targeted ending automatic citizenship for people born in the United States and asylum at the southern border.
The practical impact of the order remains unclear, however, experts suggest it could increase fear within immigrant communities across the country.
The order could also face legal challenges. A previous attempt by Trump to withhold federal funds from sanctuary cities was dismissed by the Supreme Court.
The executive order also calls for enhanced “eligibility verification systems, to the maximum extent possible” to exclude undocumented immigrants from taxpayer-funded benefits. This aligns with the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program, which was expanded under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.
President Trump has praised Musk and DOGE for helping implement several of his executive orders.
The new order represents another step in Trump’s efforts to reshape immigration policy in the United States. While the administration frames it as protecting American taxpayers, policy experts continue to debate the actual fiscal impact of undocumented immigrants on public resources.
