The Trump administration announced Monday that it has launched an investigation into California’s cash assistance program for California’s cash assistance program for immigrants. It is a state program that provides monthly cash benefits to seniors, blind and non-citizens with disabilities who are not eligible for Social Security benefits due to immigration circumstances.
The investigation began in Los Angeles, and in an immigration and customs enforcement Homeland Security Survey, the Los Angeles field office issued a Title 8 subpoena to California’s Cash Assistance Program for Immigration, the Department of Homeland Security said in a news release.
According to the department, the subpoena will require all records from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services, the agency administering the state program, to determine whether unqualified immigrants have received supplemental security income from the Department of Social Security over the past four years.
“The radical left politicians in California will prioritize illegal aliens over our own citizens, including making illegal aliens accessible to cash benefits,” Homeland Security Secretary Christa Noem said in a statement.
“The Trump administration is working together to identify abuse and public interest exploitation, and is making sure that people in this country cannot illegally limit federal benefits and other financial incentives,” Noem added. “If you’re an illegal immigrant, you should leave now. The gravy train is over.
According to Homeland Security, the Los Angeles Research Field Office is a record that summons records that include the applicant’s name and date of birth, a copy of the application, a copy of immigration status, proof of eligibility for Social Security Agency interests, and an affidavit supporting the application.
The investigation comes after President Trump signed the president’s memorandum on April 15 to stop immigrants from obtaining Social Security Act benefits in bids to encourage illegal immigration and to stop bids to protect taxpayer dollars.
The memorandum directed the Secretary of Homeland Security to prevent unauthorized immigrants from receiving funds from the Social Security program, prioritizing private or criminal execution against states or regions due to potential violations of Personal Responsibility and Title IV of the Work Opportunity Settlement Act.
It also expanded the Social Security Agency’s fraud prosecution program to at least 50 US lawyers and established Medicare and Medicaid fraud prevention programs in 15 US lawyers’ offices.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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