States Must Now Report Undocumented Immigrants to DHS or Risk Federal Funding, DOJ Says
The new DOJ opinion relates to funding states get for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and the Supplemental Security Income programs.
TL;DR
- States must report undocumented immigrants to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
- Failure to report could lead to the loss of federal funding for TANF and SSI programs.
- The Department of Justice revised a 1998 legal opinion regarding state reporting obligations.
- The new opinion clarifies that the entire state government must share information when accepting federal TANF or SSI funds.
- The ruling applies proactively to future enrollments, not past ones.
- Some states, including California and New York, are reviewing or have commented on the opinion, with California's AG office calling it an attempt to 'rewrite decades-old law'.