The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has launched an investigation into the state of California for allegedly providing federal benefits to illegal immigrants, with a focus on Los Angeles County. Local officials in the area claim that 10% of the county’s population consists of undocumented immigrants. The investigation seeks to determine whether state-funded benefits, such as those provided through California’s Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI), are being misused by individuals who are not eligible for federal benefits.
DHS’s inquiry involves comparing California’s CAPI data, which is designed to assist non-citizens who are ineligible for federal Social Security benefits, with federal disbursement records. The goal is to identify whether any federal payments have been made to ineligible individuals.
California has long provided a range of state-funded benefits for illegal immigrants, including income-based eligibility for Medi-Cal, the state’s taxpayer-funded healthcare system, which was expanded in 2024 to cover all income-qualifying undocumented residents.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem criticized California’s approach, says , “Radical left politicians in California prioritize illegal aliens over our own citizens, including by giving illegal aliens access to cash benefits.” She added that the investigation is just the beginning, warning that “the gravy train is over” for illegal immigrants.
California’s Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) is a 100% state-funded initiative that “employs” monthly benefits to individuals who are aged, blind, or disabled but do not meet the federal requirements for Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payment (SSI/SSP). CAPI benefits can go up to $1,599 per month and are available to a wide range of individuals, including victims of human trafficking and those with temporary immigration statuses.
While illegal immigrants are not eligible for federal benefits, California’s expansion of programs like Medi-Cal and the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program has raised concerns about the scope and cost of benefits for non-citizens. Medi-Cal, for instance, cost California $9.5 billion through February in fiscal year 2024-2025.
