Carl Higbie argued that immigrant-headed households use major welfare programs at substantially higher rates than households headed by U.S.-born Americans, saying taxpayers are being forced to support benefits that extend well beyond the programs included in federal welfare statistics.
Higbie began by pointing to data from the 2024 Survey of Income and Program Participation, focusing on household participation in government assistance programs.
The federal survey tracks income and participation in programs including SNAP, WIC, SSI and other forms of assistance.
“The 2024 Survey of Income and Program Participation indicates that 53% of households headed by immigrants, that’s naturalized citizens, legal residents, and illegal immigrants, 53% used one or more major welfare programs,” Higbie said.