NEW YORK: Claims circulating on social media that the Biden administration is providing people entering the US illegally with payments of $2,200 per month are false, according to immigration experts and government sources, the Associated Press news agency reported. The misinformation, which has been widely shared online, misrepresents the assistance available to migrants and refugees in the United States.
The facts are that individuals who enter the US illegally are generally not eligible for federal cash assistance, apart from specific cases involving certain Cubans and Haitians, as stated by immigration experts and verified by The Associated Press. Refugees, people granted asylum, and select humanitarian migrants are entitled to certain public benefits, including cash assistance related to their initial resettlement. However, these benefits do not reach the claimed amount of $2,200 each month.
Social media posts citing the Americans for Legal Immigration PAC (ALIPAC) and a statement made by retired Army Col Douglas Macgregor on a Tucker Carlson interview have contributed to the misinformation. Macgregor alleged that every alleged asylum seeker and illegal migrant pouring in through the border in Texas receives a monthly payment of $2,200. However, experts clarified that unauthorized immigrants generally have limited access to federally-funded public benefits, and the assistance they may receive is not in the form of cash payments.
Immigrants Eligibility for Financial Assistance in US
While some refugees, asylees, and specific humanitarian migrants are eligible for federal cash assistance, these programs provide significantly lower amounts than the claimed $2,200. For example, the Refugee Cash Assistance program offers financial help for basic needs such as food and shelter for up to 12 months, with amounts under $1,000 for a couple. Similarly, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program provides financial support to families with minor children but does not reach the stated amount, even for larger families.
The US Department of State provides a one-time payment to local resettlement agencies to assist refugees, with only a portion available for critical needs like rent and food. Refugees and people granted asylum may also qualify for supplemental security income, but the maximum monthly payment is $914 for an individual and $1,371 for a couple.
Claims that migrants entering the US illegally receive $2,200 each month from the federal government are false. While some refugees, asylees, and specific humanitarian migrants may receive federal cash assistance, the amounts are considerably lower than the misinformation suggests.
