United States: The White House has announced that Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at cutting off federal benefits for undocumented immigrants. While details remain unclear, the order seeks to eliminate “all taxpayer-funded benefits” for those in the country illegally.
Under current law, undocumented immigrants are mostly ineligible for public benefits, except for emergency medical care and K-12 education, which the Supreme Court guaranteed in 1982. The administration claims the new order will implement a 1996 welfare law that restricts benefits but has been “undermined” in recent years.
The move also targets state and local governments using federal funds to help sanctuary policies, while agencies are directed to check benefit spending for inconsistencies with federal law. Trump’s crackdown rises beyond benefits. On his first day in office, he signed 10 executive orders on immigration, including ending birthright citizenship and denying asylum at the southern border.
The birthright citizenship order is currently blocked in court. He also ended Biden-era programmes that granted parole to more than 900,000 people through the CBP One app and over 500,000 from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who arrived with financial sponsors. Nearly 300,000 Ukrainians and Afghans who received parole under Biden’s policies may also be affected.
Parole recipients who stay in the US for at least a year are classified as “qualified non-citizens,” making them eligible for Medicaid and other benefits but only after five years. Some states have shortened that wait time, a practice Trump’s order aims to curb.
🚨 BREAKING: President Donald J. Trump just signed an executive order to TERMINATE all taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal aliens and END the subsidization of open borders.
Here is the text of the order:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the…
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 20, 2025
In a separate order, Trump directed all federal agencies to conduct a regulatory review, working with Elon Musk’s government efficiency team. Any regulations found to conflict with the administration’s policies will be rescinded or modified. The initiative aligns with Musk’s broader push for government downsizing, which has faced legal challenges.
Trump has also ordered the elimination of several independent agencies, including the United States Institute for Peace, which promotes conflict resolution, the Inter-American Foundation, which funds development in Latin America, and the US African Development Foundation, which supports grassroots projects in Africa.
Trump’s sweeping changes come as his administration consolidates control over government operations, with the backing of influential tech leaders. His allies have openly threatened retribution against the media, while some cabinet members have challenged scientific agreement on issues like climate change. At this pivotal moment, fact-based journalism remains essential to scrutinizing power and its impact.
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