‘Postsecondary education programs funded by federal government should benefit American citizens, not illegal aliens,’ Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said.
Multiple agencies updated their policies on July 10 to block illegal immigrants from receiving federal benefits through their programs.
The move follows President Donald Trump’s executive order in February directing federal agencies to identify government-funded programs that “permit illegal aliens to obtain any cash or non-cash public benefit” and to bring those programs align with the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA), a law that prohibits illegal immigrants from getting “federal public benefits.”
The Department of Education (DOE) said on July 10 that illegal immigrants will no longer have access to taxpayer-funded benefits in postsecondary education programs, such as Pell Grants and student loans.
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said that DOE aims to ensure that taxpayer funds are used to support U.S. citizens and residents who legally entered the country and meet federal eligibility requirements.
“Postsecondary education programs funded by the federal government should benefit American citizens, not illegal aliens,” McMahon said in a statement.
DOE stated that it was rescinding a “Dear Colleague Letter” issued by former President Bill Clinton in 1997 that had allowed illegal immigrants to access federal public benefits for career, technical, and adult education programs.
It said the letter had “erroneously exempted” those programs from being subject to PRWORA, enabling the department to mischaracterize the law by “creating artificial distinctions between federal benefit programs based upon the method of assistance,” despite Congress making no such distinction in the legislation, according to the statement.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, hardworking American taxpayers will no longer foot the bill for illegal aliens to participate in our career, technical, or adult education programs or activities,” McMahon stated.
DOE said it will send letters to all grantees to discuss eligibility verification and may take enforcement actions against grantees and subgrantees under PRWORA by Aug. 9.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) stated that it was rescinding a 1998 interpretation of PRWORA, a move that will restrict illegal immigrants’ access to the agency’s government-funded programs.
