States must report illegal immigrants or risk losing welfare funds: DOJ

States accepting federal welfare funds must require all state agencies, not just welfare offices, to report known illegal immigrants to federal authorities or risk losing funding for the programs, the Justice Department said Wednesday.

In a new opinion published Wednesday, the department’s Office of Legal Counsel concluded that a reporting mandate in the 1996 welfare reform law applies across state governments participating in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, known as TANF, and certain Supplemental Security Income agreements. States that refuse to comply could lose federal funding tied to those programs.