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http://www.researchforum.org/project_general_86.html |
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Illegal Aliens: Extent of Welfare Benefits Received on Behalf of U.S. Citizen Children
General Information
View a brief abstract of this project.
| Evaluator(s) |
US Government Accountability Office |
| Investigator(s) |
Not Reported
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| Domain |
Income Security/TANF |
| Status | Completed (final report released) |
| Type |
Research and/or Program Evaluation |
| Program/Policy Description |
In recent years, public concern about illegal immigration has often focused on the costs associated with illegal aliens’ use of public benefits and the extent to which these benefits serve as an incentive for immigration. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) further restricted the limited access of illegal aliens to federal public benefits and limited their access to state and local public benefits. The act also requires us to report on the extent to which means-tested public benefits are provided to illegal aliens for the use of eligible individuals. This is most likely to occur when an illegal alien parent not eligible for aid receives benefits on behalf of his or her U.S. citizen child. A child born in the United States to an illegal alien obtains U.S. citizenship at birth regardless of the parent’s immigration status and, as any other citizen in need, may receive welfare and other benefits. When such a child receives assistance, the aid also helps support the child’s family, raising concerns about the use of public assistance by those illegally in the United States. This report responds to the mandate for information on the extent to which this occurs and discusses 1) to what extent and in what locations selected federal means-tested benefits are being provided to illegal aliens for the use of their U.S. citizen children, and 2) the nature and extent of fraud or misrepresentation detected in connection with these benefits. Of the many federal means-tested programs, we focused on the four largest programs: Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), the Food Stamp program, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Department and Housing and Urban Development (HUD). |
| Notes | No notes reported. |
| Last Updated | 07/09/98 |
| Type of Summary | Unreviewed |
| Contact(s) |
Mark Nadel (not reported)
US Government Accountability Office 441 G Street NW (T) (202)-512-7125 (F) not reported |
| Submitter(s) |
Research Forum Staff (info@researchforum.org)
National Center for Children In Poverty 215 West 125th St, 3rd Fl (T) (646)284-9600 (F) not reported |
Populations Studied
| Target Population |
Recipients/participants/clients Immigrants |
| Subgroups Analyzed |
None |
| Sample Size and Unit |
The source data were AFDC and Food Stamp households selected for quality control reviews from October 1994 through September 1995 (FY 1995). To determine the extent of fraud or misrepresentation detected, we spoke with officials at the national level for each program and in the three states and reviewed available studies. |
| Execution | Not applicable. |
Sites Studied
CaliforniaNew York
Texas
Program Components, Policies, and Activities Evaluated
Administration/Implementation
| Variation in program components across sites? | No |
Outcomes Assessed
Housing
Income security
Types of Studies
| Type | Descriptive/Analytical Study |
Data Sources
| Source | Administrative data |
| Source | Field Research |
Findings Available
Final Descriptive/Analytical FindingsRecommendations
Existing Publications
| 11/01/97 | Illegal Aliens: Extent of Welfare Benefits Received on Behalf of U.S. Citizen Children | GAO |
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