On February 19, President Trump released an Executive Order to intimidate immigrant families, claiming to bar households from accessing critical services. The Executive Order, however, does not change eligibility requirements, which are set in federal law. The Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition released a statement emphasizing that the order does little to change the already narrow access to public benefits by people who are undocumented such that the Order has no immediate effect.
The Executive Order, “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders,” requires federal agencies to identify federally funded programs that allow undocumented people to receive benefits and, consistent with applicable law, prohibits undocumented people from accessing these benefits. The Order also requires each agency to report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) all agency funding sources that serve this population and recommended actions within 30 days.
People who are undocumented are already ineligible for most federal programs. By discouraging access to public benefits, policies such as this Executive Order will lead to even more housing insecurity and homelessness. The new policy does not change families’ eligibility for public benefits like housing programs, Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The Order is designed to frighten immigrant families.
Read the executive order here.
Read PIF’s statement here.