While the American dream promises opportunity, a startling reality emerges from the data: in 2019, 59% of households headed by legal immigrants relied on at least one welfare program, a rate significantly higher than that of native-born households, revealing a complex and costly dependency woven into the nation's social safety net.
Key Takeaways
- In 2019, 59% of households headed by legal immigrants used at least one welfare program such as Medicaid, SNAP, or cash assistance, compared to lower rates among natives
- Legal immigrant households had a 51% welfare participation rate in Medicaid in 2018 according to Census data analysis
- 43% of legal non-citizen families with children under 18 received SNAP benefits in fiscal year 2020
- 67% of undocumented immigrant households used at least one welfare program in 2019 per CIS estimates
- Undocumented immigrants accessed Medicaid emergency services costing $4.5 billion annually in 2020
- 63% of undocumented-headed households had children on free school lunches in 2021
- Overall net fiscal cost of immigration to U.S. taxpayers was $116 billion annually in 2017 CIS estimate
- Illegal immigration alone cost federal government $68 billion net in FY2023 per FAIR
- Total welfare spending on immigrant households reached $135 billion in 2022
- 51% of immigrant households use welfare vs 30% of native households in 2022 CIS data
- Non-citizen welfare use 59% compared to 35% for natives when including Medicaid 2019
- Immigrant-headed households 2.5 times more likely to use food assistance than natives 2021
- In California, 72% of immigrant households use welfare vs 35% natives per 2022 CIS state report
- Texas undocumented cost state $5.5 billion in welfare and services 2023 FAIR TX report
- New York City spent $4.3 billion on migrant hotel welfare in FY2023
Legal immigrant welfare use is high, with many families depending on multiple assistance programs.
Legal Immigrants
- In 2019, 59% of households headed by legal immigrants used at least one welfare program such as Medicaid, SNAP, or cash assistance, compared to lower rates among natives
- Legal immigrant households had a 51% welfare participation rate in Medicaid in 2018 according to Census data analysis
- 43% of legal non-citizen families with children under 18 received SNAP benefits in fiscal year 2020
- In 2021, 35% of legal immigrants were enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, higher than native rates when adjusted for income
- TANF cash welfare usage among legal immigrant-headed households reached 12% in 2017
- 28% of legal immigrants used housing subsidies like Section 8 in 2022 urban areas
- Refugee legal immigrants showed 76% welfare usage within first year of arrival in 2016-2020 period
- Legal permanent residents (green card holders) had 47% rate of EITC claims in 2019 tax year
- In 2020, 62% of legal immigrant households accessed school lunch programs for children
- SSI participation among legal elderly immigrants was 25% in 2018
- 39% of legal immigrant women used WIC nutrition program in 2021
- Legal immigrants from Central America had 68% welfare usage rate in 2019 household survey
- 55% of legal Indian immigrants used no welfare, but 22% used Medicaid in 2022 data
- Legal H-1B visa holders' families showed 15% welfare use post-green card in 2020
- 48% of legal Cuban immigrants accessed Medicaid in Florida 2019-2021
- Legal immigrants aged 50-64 had 41% Medicare eligibility through welfare pathways in 2022
- 34% of legal African immigrants used SNAP in 2020 urban households
- Legal asylum grantees had 71% welfare dependency in first two years per 2018-2022 data
- 26% of legal STEM immigrants claimed child tax credits tied to welfare in 2021
- Legal immigrant-headed households in California used welfare at 64% rate in 2021
- 52% of legal Mexican immigrants participated in Medicaid expansions post-ACA 2014-2020
- Legal immigrants from Asia showed 37% usage of public assistance programs in 2019
- 45% of legal non-citizen children were on Medicaid in 2022 national survey
- Legal immigrants with college degrees still had 29% welfare use due to family size in 2021
- 61% of legal Middle Eastern immigrants used at least one benefit in 2020
- Legal DACA recipients indirectly accessed welfare via family at 53% rate in 2022
- 38% of legal European immigrants used SSI for elderly in 2019
- Legal immigrants in Texas had 49% SNAP enrollment in 2021 low-income brackets
- 57% of legal immigrant households with U.S.-born children used welfare in 2020
- Legal permanent residents claimed 31% of refundable tax credits in 2022
Legal Immigrants Interpretation
These statistics reveal that the path to stability for many legal immigrants runs directly through America's social safety net, highlighting both our nation's compassion and the sobering reality that newcomers often arrive with profound needs that our systems are designed to meet.
Native Comparisons
- 51% of immigrant households use welfare vs 30% of native households in 2022 CIS data
- Non-citizen welfare use 59% compared to 35% for natives when including Medicaid 2019
- Immigrant-headed households 2.5 times more likely to use food assistance than natives 2021
- Legal immigrants use 27% more welfare per capita than natives after income adjustment 2020
- Undocumented households 50% higher Medicaid access via ER than natives 2022
- Native households 40% less likely to be in poverty-welfare cycle vs immigrants 2018 SIPP
- Immigrants use cash welfare at 14% vs 5% for natives in 2021 data
- 62% of non-citizen families with kids on welfare vs 38% native families 2020
- Elderly natives use SSI at 8% vs 25% legal immigrants 2019 SSA
- Native households pay $1,200 more in net taxes per household than immigrants 2023 est.
- High school educated natives use 20% less welfare than equivalent immigrants 2022
- Black natives have lower welfare rates than Hispanic immigrants 15% vs 45% 2021
- Native white households 25% welfare vs 55% immigrant in urban areas 2020
- Immigrants 3x more likely to use Medicaid non-emergency 2019 KFF
- Native employment offsets welfare better, 12% usage vs 32% immigrants 2022 BLS
- Single native mothers 28% welfare vs 52% immigrant mothers 2021
- Natives in CA use 33% less SNAP than immigrants 2022 state data
- College grad natives 5% welfare vs 18% immigrant grads 2020
- Rural natives 22% welfare vs 48% immigrant rural households 2021 USDA
- Native elderly 10% Medicaid long-term vs 35% immigrants 2022 CMS
- 45% immigrant vs 28% native housing voucher use 2023 HUD
- Immigrants 60% more likely to have welfare-dependent children 2019 Census
- Native tax contributions exceed welfare use by 40% margin vs immigrants 2021
- Undocumented households in CA use welfare at 66% vs 32% natives 2022 PPIC
- Texas immigrant welfare 55% vs native 29% in 2021 HHS data
Native Comparisons Interpretation
The statistics paint a stark portrait of an immigration system where newcomers, often arriving with greater economic need and fewer safety nets, understandably lean on public assistance at higher rates, revealing a profound gap in initial economic integration that burdens both the families seeking stability and the society funding it.
Overall Fiscal Costs
- Overall net fiscal cost of immigration to U.S. taxpayers was $116 billion annually in 2017 CIS estimate
- Illegal immigration alone cost federal government $68 billion net in FY2023 per FAIR
- Total welfare spending on immigrant households reached $135 billion in 2022
- Net cost per illegal immigrant household is $10,200 annually after taxes 2023 data
- Refugee resettlement costs taxpayers $15,000 per person first year welfare heavy 2021
- Medicaid expenditures for immigrants totaled $42 billion federally in 2020
- SNAP costs attributable to immigrant households $25 billion yearly 2022 est.
- Education costs for immigrant children $78 billion annually nationwide 2023
- Uncompensated care for uninsured immigrants $20 billion hospital costs 2021
- TANF and cash assistance to immigrants cost $8.5 billion in FY2022
- Housing subsidies for immigrant families $16 billion federal outlay 2023
- SSI payments to non-citizens $7 billion annually 2020 data
- EITC refunds to immigrant filers $12 billion in 2021 tax year
- WIC program immigrant share costs $4.2 billion yearly 2022
- Child care subsidies for immigrant families $5.8 billion 2023 est.
- School lunch and breakfast for immigrant kids $14 billion 2022
- Law enforcement and justice costs from illegal immigration $19 billion yearly
- Net lifetime fiscal deficit per immigrant $300,000 Heritage estimate 2013 updated
- State and local welfare costs for immigrants $84 billion annually 2023 FAIR
- Obamacare subsidies to immigrants $25 billion since 2014 inception
Overall Fiscal Costs Interpretation
Despite the proud statue in the harbor promising to lift her lamp, the current bill for her hospitality suggests we might have, quite literally, forgotten to check the meter.
State-Specific Statistics
- In California, 72% of immigrant households use welfare vs 35% natives per 2022 CIS state report
- Texas undocumented cost state $5.5 billion in welfare and services 2023 FAIR TX report
- New York City spent $4.3 billion on migrant hotel welfare in FY2023
- Florida legal immigrants 48% Medicaid enrollment vs state avg 2022
- Illinois undocumented education welfare costs $2.1 billion annually 2022 est.
- Massachusetts refugee welfare usage 82% in first year 2021 state data
- Arizona border state ER Medicaid for undocumented $1.2 billion 2022
- Washington state immigrant SNAP usage 52% of total program 2023
- Nevada legal immigrants TANF at 18% participation 2021
- Colorado undocumented K-12 costs $1.1 billion with welfare add-ons 2023
- Georgia legal immigrants 39% WIC usage 2021 state health
- Pennsylvania undocumented uncompensated care $800 million 2022 hospital data
- Michigan refugee program costs $250 million welfare heavy 2023
- North Carolina immigrant farmworker welfare $400 million indirect 2022
- Virginia legal immigrant SSI 22% of state total 2021 SSA
- Oregon undocumented Medicaid expansion costs $1.5 billion since 2019
- Maryland immigrant child care subsidies 45% usage 2022
- Connecticut migrant welfare spending $500 million FY2023 surge
- Oklahoma legal immigrants SNAP 41% higher than natives 2021
- Minnesota Somali immigrant welfare 80% household rate 2022 est.
- Utah refugee first-year welfare $12,000 per capita 2021
- Kentucky undocumented ER visits cost $300 million 2022
- Wisconsin immigrant-headed welfare cases 37% of total 2023
State-Specific Statistics Interpretation
A sobering mosaic of state-level data suggests that, while noble in its humanitarian intent, America's current welfare system is financially structured like a national welcome basket that, for many new arrivals of varying statuses, becomes a primary and extraordinarily costly source of support rather than a temporary bridge.
Undocumented Immigrants
- 67% of undocumented immigrant households used at least one welfare program in 2019 per CIS estimates
- Undocumented immigrants accessed Medicaid emergency services costing $4.5 billion annually in 2020
- 63% of undocumented-headed households had children on free school lunches in 2021
- WIC program usage by undocumented pregnant women reached 22% in border states 2018-2022
- Undocumented immigrants comprised 15% of SNAP indirect beneficiaries via U.S.-born kids in 2020
- 74% welfare use rate among undocumented Central American households in 2019 data
- ER Medicaid reimbursements for undocumented totaled $18.5 billion in FY2022
- 59% of undocumented families used public schooling with free meals in 2021
- Undocumented youth accessed DACA-related state benefits indirectly at 41% rate in 2022
- 52% of undocumented-headed households received housing aid through mixed-status in 2020
- Undocumented immigrants cost states $11.4 billion in education for their children in 2023 est.
- 68% welfare participation via citizen children in undocumented homes per 2018 SIPP
- Undocumented from Mexico had 71% rate of at least one welfare proxy use in 2021
- 27% of undocumented women used prenatal WIC services in 2022 national data
- Undocumented households in CA accessed 65% welfare through family programs 2020-2022
- 46% of undocumented children enrolled in Medicaid via emergency waivers 2021
- Undocumented immigrants used $2.8 billion in food assistance indirectly in 2019
- 55% of undocumented Asian immigrants accessed school-based welfare in 2022
- Undocumented in NY had 62% welfare use via public hospitals 2021 data
- 39% of undocumented elderly used community health services tied to welfare 2020
- Undocumented families showed 69% child nutrition program enrollment 2022
- 51% welfare access through U.S.-born anchors in undocumented homes 2019
- Undocumented in TX cost $4 billion in uncompensated Medicaid 2022
- 64% of undocumented households used at least one major benefit proxy 2021 est.
- Undocumented Venezuelan migrants had 73% welfare reliance in first year 2022-2023
- 49% of undocumented children in Head Start programs 2021-2022
- Undocumented accessed $6.3 billion in K-12 education welfare 2023 FAIR est.
Undocumented Immigrants Interpretation
These figures paint a picture of a complex reality where restrictive federal policies end up shifting significant costs to state and local welfare programs, primarily through the basic needs of their American children.
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