President Trump on Wednesday vowed to push for legislation “very shortly” that would prevent new immigrants from receiving any welfare benefits for at least five years after coming to the United States.
But that’s already the law.
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 already states new immigrants are “not eligible for any federal means-tested public benefit for a period of five years beginning on the date of the alien’s entry into the United States.”
Speaking during a rally in Iowa on Wednesday evening, Trump called for “new immigration rules” that “say those seeking admission into our country must be able to support themselves financially and should not use welfare for a period of at least five years.”
Trump told the crowd he would be promoting “legislation to that effect very shortly.”
“Another core principle is that those coming to our country must embrace our values and love our people,” Trump said.
A White House spokesman told the Washington Examiner the law is “full of holes.”
“The president was referring to policies he laid out both during his joint address to Congress and in his budget that promote a merit-based approach to immigration that requires self-sufficiency,” White House spokesman Michael Short said. “That law is full of holes.”
