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By Sam Stevenson
Associate News Editor
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Non‑American citizens would lose access to a range of federal benefits under a new proposal introduced in Congress this week, the latest in a wave of legislation aimed at tightening eligibility for government assistance programs.
Why It Matters
The proposal comes amid broader efforts by Republicans and the Trump administration to realign federal spending with the "America First" policy agenda—prioritizing U.S. citizens for federal services and tightening immigration‑related access to welfare programs.
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Over the past year, GOP lawmakers have pushed multiple measures tying welfare access to immigration restrictions, arguing that benefit programs have become overextended and financially unsustainable.
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What To Know
On Thursday this week, Republican Representative Glenn Grothman of Wisconsin introduced a new bill "to restrict certain Federal assistance benefits to individuals verified to be citizens of the United States," according to its summary on Congress.gov.
Congressman Grothman’s proposal, which has been given the title H.R.7213, has been referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. As of Saturday, the bill had been introduced but had not advanced beyond committee referral.
It follows similar legislation introduced by Republican Representative Randy Fine of Florida at the end of last year, calling for an end to eligibility for federal welfare benefits for all non-citizens.
Introducing the No Welfare for Non‑Citizens Act on December 20, Fine framed the proposal as an urgent fiscal corrective, warning of "massive and reckless transfer of federal taxpayer dollars to non‑citizens while Americans are buried under record debt."
He said in a press release: "Hardworking Americans should not be paying for non-citizens' healthcare, free housing, food stamps, Medicaid, or anything else for that matter."
Fine’s bill would:
- End eligibility for federal welfare benefits for all non‑citizens.
- Eliminate carve‑outs that currently allow limited access to certain federal programs.
Together, the Grothman and Fine proposals reflect an accelerating effort among immigration‑hardline conservatives to draw sharp distinctions between citizen and non‑citizen access to federal systems.
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Trump's 'America First' Welfare Framework
The renewed legislative push reflects the revived America First welfare framework under the Trump administration, which has prioritized reducing federal expenditures that benefit immigrants—documented or undocumented—and tightening rules around federal programs.
This includes significant provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which already restricts Medicaid and SNAP eligibility to narrower immigrant categories beginning in 2026.
These measures echo the broader Trump-era approach that frames immigration as a financial burden, even as pro‑immigration and economic researchers have repeatedly pointed to immigrants’ contributions to federal revenues—including the $26.2 billion undocumented workers paid into Social Security in 2023, benefits they are unlikely ever to collect.
What Federal Benefits Non‑Citizens Can Actually Receive
Announcing his proposal, Fine argued that "Somalians, illegals, and even legal immigrants are getting free handouts at the expense of American taxpayers."
But the American Immigration Council (AIC) has indirectly countered this narrative, with Melissa Cruz, an author and editor for the non-profit, arguing in a blog post: "Amid widespread misinformation about immigrants, SNAP, Medicaid, and government benefits, it’s critical to know the facts."
“Who qualifies for specific federal public benefits can be complicated, relying on a sweeping checklist of eligibility criteria. The recent passage of Trump’s OBBBA has further muddied the waters,” she added.
The AIC said that "aggressive immigration enforcement activities" and sweeping eligibility cuts are already contributing to "adverse economic and workforce impacts," and that punitive, broad‑brush policies undermine due process for both citizens and non‑citizens.
Undocumented Immigrants and Health Care
According to the AIC, undocumented immigrants cannot receive federally funded health care such as Medicaid, Medicare, or CHIP. They also cannot buy subsidized plans through the ACA marketplace.
The only exception is emergency medical care, which hospitals must provide regardless of immigration status.
Emergency Medicaid reimburses hospitals—not patients—and only for life‑stabilizing treatment. Starting October 1, 2026, OBBBA will reduce federal funding to states for these emergency services, AIC says.
New Medicaid Limits for Lawful Immigrants
Beginning October 1, 2026, Medicaid eligibility will be restricted to:
- Green card holders
- Cuban‑Haitian entrants
- COFA (Compact of Free Association) citizens
Groups who previously qualified—including asylees, refugees, parolees, and trafficking survivors—will lose access under OBBBA’s new rules.
SNAP (Food Assistance) Eligibility
Undocumented immigrants cannot receive SNAP benefits. However, SNAP is calculated by household: an undocumented parent may apply only for their U.S. citizen children, and benefits cover eligible members only.
Other immigrants can receive SNAP, but most must wait five years after obtaining a green card. OBBBA further narrows eligibility so that only the same three categories allowed for Medicaid—green card holders, Cuban‑Haitian entrants, and COFA citizens—can apply. Asylees, refugees, parolees, and trafficking survivors are now barred.
According to the AIC, fear also plays a role: many mixed‑status families avoid benefits even when eligible because of the revived public charge rule, worrying it could harm future immigration applications.
Social Security Access
Undocumented immigrants cannot receive Social Security benefits. Despite this, they contribute billions in payroll taxes—$26.2 billion into the Trust Fund in 2023 alone—but will never collect the benefits they pay into, the AIC says.
What People Are Saying
Congressman Fine said: "Americans are being robbed. Somalians, illegals, and even legal immigrants are getting free handouts at the expense of American taxpayers. That is insane, it is immoral, and it must stop.
"Hardworking Americans should not be paying for non-citizens' healthcare, free housing, food stamps, Medicaid, or anything else for that matter. Citizens come first. Period.
"My legislation will ensure that non-citizens don't receive any government benefits from the taxpayer. If you want free stuff, then you need to go home."
The AIC said: "The Social Security Administration has even acknowledged that 'the presence of unauthorized workers in the United States has, on average, a positive effect on the financial status of the Social Security program.'
"In times of economic uncertainty, bad faith actors often point the finger at a common scapegoat: immigrants. But as the data shows, immigrants are not a drain on public benefits, and in many cases, bolster the very benefits they’re accused of exploiting."
What Happens Next
Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee that reviews it, holds hearings, and can amend it before deciding whether to advance it.
If approved, it moves to the full chamber for a vote and must then pass the same process in the other chamber before heading to the president for signature or veto.
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