The Department of Homeland Security has issued subpoenas to California for records related to alleged illegal immigrant benefits funded with federal dollars. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) office in Los Angeles is targeting the state’s Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI), demanding documents including names, birth dates, and immigration status of applicants dating back to 2021.
CAPI is marketed as aid for aged, blind, and disabled non-citizens who cannot access federal Supplemental Security Income. However, the White House asserts that the program extends benefits to illegal immigrants ineligible for Social Security, raising alarms about potential violations of federal law.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem issued a direct rebuke of California’s leadership. “Radical left politicians in California prioritize illegal aliens over our own citizens, including by giving illegal aliens access to cash benefits,” Noem stated. “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 emphasized that the investigation is just beginning. “If you are an illegal immigrant, you should leave now. The gravy train is over,” Noem declared. The subpoenas mark a significant step in the Trump administration’s renewed efforts to stop what officials call a misallocation of taxpayer funds.
This investigation follows a report from the Economic Policy Innovation Center (EPIC), which alleged California is funneling billions in federal taxpayer money to illegal immigrants under the guise of Medicaid reimbursements. EPIC claimed, “The state of California, colluding with insurance companies who cover Medicaid beneficiaries, has created one of the most outrageous ones yet, a money laundering scheme that results in California obtaining more than $19 billion in federal money without any state contribution.”
The EPIC report also accused California of using the funds to finance illegal immigrant healthcare and long-term care for the wealthy. A spokesperson for California’s Department of Healthcare Services dismissed the report as “misleading,” urging readers to consult state resources for “accurate information.”
Noem’s closing message made the administration’s stance clear: “While this subpoena focuses only on Los Angeles County – it is just the beginning.”
