Who is afforded more welfare benefits, U.S.-born households or immigrant-headed households?

Using data from the 2024 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), this analysis examines the use of means-tested welfare programs among immigrant and U.S.-born-headed households, excluding Social Security and Medicare. It finds immigrant-headed households are significantly more likely to receive benefits than U.S.-born households. The report argues this is partly because low-income immigrants, including those in the country illegally, can access benefits through their U.S.-born citizen children. It concludes that limiting welfare use would require reducing illegal immigration and prioritizing higher-skilled legal immigrants. Steven A. Camarota, Director of Research for the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), joins Newell to talk about it.