The White House takes a decisive turn in immigration policy enforcement under Trump's leadership.
According to The Daily Caller, President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday to terminate all taxpayer-funded benefits for individuals residing illegally in the United States, marking another significant step in his administration's stringent immigration policy.
The executive order instructs federal departments and agencies to identify and eliminate programs providing benefits to undocumented immigrants.
It also targets funding that supports sanctuary policies at state and local levels, citing the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 as its legal foundation.
Research from various organizations has highlighted the financial impact of illegal immigration on American taxpayers. The Federation for American Immigration Reform found that U.S. taxpayers spend approximately $182 billion annually supporting 20 million illegal migrants and their children.
The Congressional Budget Office reported that Medicaid-funded emergency services for undocumented immigrants cost over $16.2 billion. Additionally, a House Homeland Security Committee study revealed taxpayers spent up to $451 billion caring for illegal migrants since January 2021.
The Trump administration emphasized the necessity of redirecting these resources toward American citizens. Trump stated in the executive order:
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
The White House maintains this directive aligns with their commitment to prioritizing American citizens' interests over those of undocumented immigrants.
Since taking office, Trump has implemented numerous initiatives to address the border crisis. These include declaring an emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, deploying armed forces to assist the Border Patrol, resuming border wall construction, and utilizing Guantanamo Bay for detaining illegal migrants involved in serious crimes.
The administration has also launched an ambitious detention and deportation agenda. Their efforts have resulted in a notable decrease in migrant encounters along the southern border, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement recording significantly higher apprehension rates compared to the Biden era.
The Safe Mobility Initiative, a Biden-era program that assisted Latin American migrants with asylum applications, has been completely terminated. This action has substantially reduced taxpayer funding for immigration services.
The executive order faces potential legal opposition, as demonstrated by organizations like the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which has already initiated legal action against the president for cutting funding to their immigration-related projects. Trump's previous executive order ending birthright citizenship for children born to undocumented parents in the U.S. remains contested in courts.
The latest directive represents another chapter in Trump's comprehensive strategy to reform immigration policy and reduce illegal entry into the United States. Through these measures, the administration aims to significantly decrease unauthorized immigration while ensuring federal resources primarily benefit American citizens.
