On Wednesday night, Feb. 19, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order designed to disallow undocumented immigrants from utilizing federally funded benefits. This action reinforces his campaign commitment to intensify enforcement against illegal immigration.
The executive order orders all federal agencies to pinpoint programs offering benefits to individuals residing in the U.S. unlawfully and to implement “corrective action” to comply with existing immigration laws, specifically 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,” stated the text of Trump’s order.
In the executive order, Trump asserts that the Biden administration consistently undermined the objectives of the PRWORA law, resulting in significant taxpayer costs. The president argues that these resources have served as a “magnet” for migrants, encouraging illegal immigration to the U.S.
The 1996 welfare legislation already restricts most undocumented immigrants from accessing federal benefits, with exceptions for emergency healthcare and public education for children. However, the Trump administration argues that these limitations have been incrementally weakened over time, particularly over the last four years.
The executive order mandates government officials to ensure that federal payments to states and localities do not intentionally or inadvertently support or encourage illegal immigration or assist in “sanctuary” policy efforts to shield undocumented immigrants from deportation.
Trump has assigned the task of identifying “all other sources of Federal funding for illegal aliens” to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire Elon Musk. The order also requires agencies to report any improper benefits received by undocumented immigrants to the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security for necessary action.
The White House fact sheet on the executive order reports that American taxpayers spend billions each year on welfare for undocumented immigrants, citing figures from an advocacy group which claims that costs related to undocumented immigrants total $182 billion annually.
However, immigration policy experts offer a more complex perspective. 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 executive order argue that the majority of undocumented immigrants are already ineligible for federal benefits. As reported by 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 U.S.
The National Immigration Law Center points out that the 1996 welfare laws established categories of “qualified” and “not qualified” immigrants, with most undocumented immigrants classified as the latter and thus being ineligible for most public benefits. They add that immigrants often encounter barriers in accessing benefits, including confusion about eligibility rules, fear of being labeled a “public charge,” and language barriers.
This executive order is part of a larger series of immigration-related actions initiated by Trump since the beginning of his second term. Previous orders have focused on terminating automatic citizenship for individuals born in the U.S. and asylum at the southern border.
While the practical impact of the order is yet to be determined, experts suggest it could heighten fear within immigrant communities nationwide.
The executive order could also face legal hurdles. An earlier attempt by Trump to withhold federal funds from sanctuary cities was ruled out by the Supreme Court.
The executive order also advocates for improved “eligibility verification systems, to the maximum extent possible” to exclude undocumented immigrants from taxpayer-funded benefits. This correlates with the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program, which was extended under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.
President Trump has commended Musk and DOGE for their assistance in implementing several of his executive orders.
This new order signifies another move in Trump’s ongoing efforts to reshape immigration policy in the U.S. While the administration portrays it as protecting American taxpayers, policy experts continue to debate the actual financial impact of undocumented immigrants on public resources.