DHS investigation claims California funds support undocumented immigrants
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has announced formal action against the state of California, claiming a state-run cash assistance program may have provided support to immigrants living in the U.S. without legal status.
On Monday, May 12, DHS issued a subpoena seeking detailed records about the program from Los Angeles County’s administration. Officials said it’s part of a broader effort to investigate the misuse of public funds.
California program meant to help legal residents
The program in question is California’s Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI). It offers monthly payments to low-income immigrants legally residing in the country, who are elderly, blind or disabled and do not qualify for federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI), often due to their immigration status.
According to the state, CAPI is fully funded by California taxpayers and is designed to support lawful residents in need. For one person, the monthly benefits typically range between $1,200 and $1,600. That dollar amount is between $2,000 and $3,200 for couples, depending on their eligibility.
According to the California Department of Social Services, a little more than 16,500 people were supported through the CAPI program between 2024 and 2025.
Allegations of broader misuse
Federal officials allege that the program may also be supporting immigrants who are living in the country without proper documentation, and thus not entitled to any form of government assistance. The DHS subpoena demands names, birth dates, immigration status and documentation proving each applicant’s ineligibility for federal benefits. The inquiry covers records dating back to January 2021.
Noem: ‘The gravy train is over’
In a statement Monday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem criticized California’s leadership, accusing state officials of putting immigrants without proper documentation ahead of American citizens.
“The Trump administration is working together to identify abuse and exploitation of public benefits and make sure those in this country illegally are not receiving federal benefits or other financial incentives to stay illegally,” she said. “The gravy train is over. While this subpoena focuses only on Los Angeles County – it is just the beginning.”
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Undocumented migrants paid an estimated $96.7 billion in U.S. taxes in 2022. $59.4 billion went to the federal government.
However, UC Davis law professor Kevin R. Johnson told ABC 7 there’s little reason to believe that migrants living in the country are abusing the system.
“The question here is whether there is any real evidence that the program has been abused in some way or whether unlawful immigrants are receiving any kind of benefits from the program,” Johnson said. “There is no real reason to think that there is.”
As for the subpoenaed records, which include an applicant’s name, date of birth, and other personal information, Johnson said, “We don’t know if it might be used for immigration enforcement operations.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office told multiple news outlets the program is “for individuals with lawful status, legal protections, or those applying for them, including victims of crime and trafficking.”
A larger trend in benefits oversight
DHS also pointed to broader concerns, claiming that more than 2 million migrants who are in the country illegally received federal Social Security benefits under the Biden administration — though that figure has not been independently verified.
Just three months into his first term, President Donald Trump signed a memorandum blocking immigrants living in the U.S. illegally from accessing federal benefits, a policy that his administration has continued to reinforce.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
