This is an often repeated talking point, sure. There are some studies that probably back it up, and there are some studies that claim the opposite.
https://www.congress.gov/118/meetin...s/HHRG-118-JU01-Wstate-CamarotaS-20240111.pdf
To be clear:
- Your referenced published study is referring to ILLEGAL Immigrants, although sure, their US-born Citizens, also poor, then help the greater family to collect means-tested programs and other government services
- Immigrants without legal status per the article have never received SNAP benefits
- The approximately 16,000 lawfully-present (i.e., LEGAL) immigrants in Illinois, including refugees, asylees, and victims of trafficking or domestic violence, are losing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits effective April 1, 2026, stem from federal eligibility changes per the passing of the One BBB tax bill that now restricts access for these populations
- It's a valid debate and discussion around reforms such as minimum monthly work hours for benefits, etc., but these benefits are being completely cut except for only a handful of certain green-card holders, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and those residing under the Compact of Free Association, among other categories of lawfully permanent residents
- And how about the debate about increasing economic opportunities for legal immigrants as well as those for low-income, uneducated U.S.-born citizens? Sure, it's not good that 69% of illegal immigrants have no education beyond High School and I'm sure it's largely the same for legal immigrants, but what about the 35% of U.S.-born citizens who presumably have the same net-negative fiscal impact to the country (taxes paid minus benefits received)? This is a big problem for the country overall; and let's not even talk about the insane, all-time high levels of income inequality and lack of opportunity to get ahead for ANYONE in this low-income, uneducated class of society
- And sure, it's a reasonable debate from an economic standpoint to ensure that this net-negative fiscal impact population doesn't get out of hand by making sure immigration doesn't get out of hand
- Let's not forget that these poor uneducated and low-income immigrants take jobs that U.S.-born citizens (including many poor ones) will not take
- But again where is the economic growth stimulus portion of this challenge by the admin? This admin is doing nothing but cutting benefits and killing entrepreneurial opportunities and job growth; instead, he's aggrandizing his cronies via grift, extorting those in power (Top legal firms, top corporations, and 4th-branch media) for even more $, and overall making his family and friends a lot richer to the detriment of low-income and middle classes. Metaphorically speaking, with this admin it's "with a rising tide (for a select, favored few), most other boats are simultaneously sunk!"
- Where is the stimulus to help drive the growth of these classes? And no, don't tell me about the resource-sucking, very limited job-generating AI data center boom; DCs are not popular with most in the U.S. Where's the growth story for these classes? There is none because Trump and his admin don't care about them
More than 16,000 immigrants in Illinois may lose food assistance in the coming months