The Trump administration is making sponsors pay back the money that migrants received through tax-payer funded benefits like welfare and health care.
Deputy Secretary of HHS, Jim O'Neill, is sending out demands for repayment from sponsors of migrants who have accessed taxpayer-funded benefits. Its actually a pre-existing law that was not enforced during the Biden Administration.
O'Neill said that sponsors are on the hook for the money when sponsored migrants use public benefits.
This action lines up with federal immigration law, which has required this type of accountability since the 1996 welfare reform. Details:
- Sponsors who sign Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support) enter a legally binding contract to reimburse the government for any benefits received by the sponsored migrant.
- Covered benefits typically include programs like Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, and SSI administered through HHS or related agencies.
- The obligation remains until the migrant becomes a U.S. citizen, accrues 40 quarters of qualifying work, departs the country permanently, or dies.
Agencies may demand repayment directly from sponsors, with options to pursue legal action for non-compliance, including recovery of costs and fees.
This move makes sure migrant sponsors, not American taxpayers, should cover support costs, preventing public resources from being used when private commitments exist.
