The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has announced a ban preventing illegal immigrants from accessing taxpayer-funded benefits through the agency.
This marks a significant policy shift reversing a longstanding interpretation of federal law.
Since 1998, HHS had interpreted the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to allow certain federal public benefits to be accessible to illegal immigrants.
This interpretation was initially established during the Clinton administration and has been in place for more than two decades.
This week, HHS officially rescinded that interpretation, signaling a move to restrict benefits exclusively to legal residents and citizens.
The decision reflects a broader effort to curb illegal immigration incentives tied to federal social programs.
In a statement on Thursday, Kennedy emphasized that government funds have been improperly diverted for years to support illegal immigration.
He framed the new policy as restoring integrity to federal programs, enforcing the rule of law, and protecting resources for Americans, per the Conservative Brief.
The benefits now denied to illegal immigrants encompass a wide range of health and social services.
These include Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, Community Mental Health Services Block Grants, and the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG).
Other excluded programs cover Head Start early childhood education, the Health Center Program, and various Health Workforce Programs including grants, loans, scholarships, and loan repayments.
Additionally, programs under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will no longer be accessible.
These include mental health and substance use disorder treatment, prevention, and recovery support services.
Grants and services focused on homelessness assistance, substance use prevention and treatment, and family planning under Title X will also be off-limits to illegal immigrants under the new rules.
Separately, Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman (D) recently criticized the Democratic Party’s handling of border security during former President Joe Biden’s tenure.
He highlighted that millions of migrants have entered the U.S. over the past four years, creating a significant political liability for Democrats.
Fetterman spoke out during a debate with Pennsylvania Sen. Dave McCormick (R) at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute, which aired on Fox Nation.
He acknowledged that his party made a major mistake by not securing the border effectively.
He expressed support for the $150 billion in border security funding proposed in former President Donald Trump’s immigration bill.
Fetterman admitted this stance has cost him support within the Democratic Party but said securing the border was essential.
Fetterman cited daily averages of 260,000 to 300,000 migrants crossing U.S. borders illegally during the Biden administration, equating that number to the size of Pittsburgh’s population of roughly 303,000 in 2023.
The Congressional Budget Office reported that net migration averaged 2.4 million people annually from 2021 to 2023, reflecting the scale of recent migration.
Fetterman warned that the U.S. cannot manage the arrival of 300,000 people each month, labeling the situation a national security issue and chaotic.
In response, McCormick pointed out that over Biden’s four years, the total number of illegal immigrants entering the country roughly equals the entire population of Pennsylvania, about 13 million.
Meanwhile, Trump has campaigned on a policy of mass deportations.
However, his efforts have been frequently blocked by lawsuits from left-wing groups and Democratic state attorneys general.
In June, a leading polling firm found that for the first time in nearly 20 years, a majority of voters believe the country is moving in the “right direction” under Trump’s policies, reflecting shifting public opinion on immigration and national direction.
This recent policy move by HHS and the political debates around immigration highlight the ongoing controversy and division over how the U.S. manages border security and immigrant benefits.
The post RFK Jr. Bans Illegal Immigrants From Receiving HHS Benefits appeared first on Resist the Mainstream.
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Author: Anthony Gonzalez
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