Our Goal
In recent months, lies about immigrants' use of child care funding, Medicaid, SNAP, and other programs have been used to justify disruptions and cuts in Congressionally-appropriated funding, fuel attacks against service providers, weaken public benefits programs, and justify sweeping immigration enforcement. This includes recent legislation to deport immigrants “who admit to or are convicted of committing certain fraud offenses.” Join PIF in showing opposition to this legislation, combatting misinformation about fraud, and preventing more harmful legislation.
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Why It Matters
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Immigrants are being scapegoated with false allegations of fraud.
Given the serious consequences for noncitizens who commit fraud and data that show that noncitizens are less likely to be convicted of fraud than citizens, punitive actions against immigrants are unjustified and do nothing to resolve the real problems everyday Americans face.
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Fraud allegations are creating new barriers to accessing essential services.
In the name of supposedly fighting fraud, the administration is freezing funds, implementing time limits on support, and adding work requirements and burdensome paperwork for basic needs programs, including child care, rental assistance, and Medicaid. These new barriers will only harm families and individuals already struggling to make ends meet.
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The administration is using fraud misinformation to pit low-income families against each other, while cutting taxes for the ultra-rich and corporations.
Bad-faith policies proposed in the name of fraud prevention have the potential to impact all low-income families who rely on public programs to support their basic needs. Instead of asking those with abundant resources to pay their fare share, the administration is choosing to make it harder for families to get affordable health care and put food on the table.
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Congress should focus on the real fraudsters.
Narratives around fraud in public benefit programs have been used to justify cuts, impose restrictive policies, and fuel public skepticism toward basic needs programs. These claims frequently lack evidence and divert attention from the real sources of waste and abuse.
Key Takeaways
- We are taking action now to oppose misleading attacks on basic needs programs and immigrant communities.
- Widespread fraud misinformation is part of the broader assault on lawfully present immigrants, US citizens in immigrant families, and the communities that welcome them.
- Attacks on public benefits programs in the name of alleged fraud will harm immigrants and U.S. citizen children in immigrant families, without addressing the real issues Americans are facing.
Background & Toolkit
Find additional information, statements, and resources, in our toolkit via the link below.
