CLASP Statement for the Record: House Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement “Impact of Illegal Immigration on Social Services”
On January 11, 2024, the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing entitled “The Impact of Illegal Immigration on Social Services.” CLASP submitted a statement for the record detailing immigrants’ fundamental contributions; the economic and social benefits of expanding safety net programs; the harms of restricting immigrants from safety net programs like SNAP, housing programs, and Medicaid; and recommendations for policymakers to consider.
Recommendations include adequately funding states and localities to welcome and meet the changing needs of newcomers, restoring access to health coverage, nutrition, and other safety net programs for immigrants and their families, removing barriers to work authorization, and expanding pathways to legal status. These recommendations, if enacted, would benefit immigrant families and their children, as well as the U.S. economy and public health.
