WASHINGTON (March 29, 2011) – A new Center for Immigration Studies report finds that, 13 years after welfare reform, the share of immigrant-headed households (legal and illegal) with a child (under age 18) using at least one welfare program continues to be very high. This is partly due to the large share of immigrants with low levels of education and their resulting low incomes – not their legal status or an unwillingness to work. The major welfare programs examined in this report include cash assistance, food assistance, Medicaid, and public and subsidized housing.
The findings also show wide variation in welfare use by country of origin, with immigrants from some countries making extensive use of such programs, while those from other countries have relatively low use rates. Welfare use also varies by state, with Arizona, Texas, California, New York, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Oregon and Colorado having some of the highest levels of welfare use among immigrant households.
The report, “Welfare Use by Immigrant Households with Children: A Look at Cash, Medicaid, Housing, and Food Programs,” is authored by Steven A. Camarota, Director of Research at the Center for Immigration Studies. It will be released Tuesday, April 5, at 9:00 a.m. during a panel discussion at the National Press Club, 14th & F streets, N.W. Please RSVP to press@cis.org.
Advanced copies of the report are available to the media.
Panelists:
Steven A. Camarota, Director of Research, Center for Immigration Studies
Mickey Kaus, blogger and author, KausFiles.com at the Daily Caller
Iain Murray, Vice President for Strategy, Competitive Enterprise Institute
Moderator: Mark Krikorian, Executive Director, Center for Immigration Studies
