Immigrants and Safety Net Programs in Federal Budget Reconciliation
Congress has started legislating, and the potential impacts on immigrants and their families are dire. Legislative proposals are swirling that put benefits further out of reach, impose new restrictions on eligibility rules, and punish states and localities that welcome immigrants. Congressional leadership hopes to make many of these changes through a budget process known as reconciliation, allowing harmful provisions to pass with a simple majority.
Use the resources below to learn more and find ways to educate your Members of Congress about the harmful impacts of cuts to safety net programs and eligibility restrictions.
Organizational Sign-on Letter
This letter from nearly 700 organizations urges Congress to protect immigrant families access to health care and social services. PIF sent it to Capitol Hill on April 1, 2025.
Advocacy Toolkit
This toolkit includes the top 3 things PIF partners can do right now to speak out on budget reconciliation. It also includes talking points, sample materials, and additional background.
Background on the Congressional “Reconciliation” Process
- Budget Reconciliation and Immigration Policy: Potential Areas of Impact in 2025. NILC, 2024
- 2025 Budget Stakes: Millions of People Across U.S. Could Lose Needed Assistance Under Republican Proposals. CBPP, 2025
The Issues
- Child Tax Credit – SSN Requirements
- Medicaid FMAP Penalty for Covering Immigrants with State-Only Funds
- Public Charge in Reconciliation
- Restricting DACA Recipients from ACA Subsidies
- SNAP in Reconciliation
- Stripping Health Coverage Eligibility from Lawfully Present Immigrants
Key Commentary
- Existing Restrictions on Immigrants’ Eligibility for Federal Assistance Leave Little to Cut. NILC, 2025
Research and Resources
- Medical Assistance Programs for Immigrants in Various States. NILC, 2024
- Guide to Immigrant Eligibility to Federal Programs. NILC, June 2024
- Immigrants’ Eligibility for U.S. Public Benefits: A Primer. Migration Policy Institute, 2024
- Overview of Immigrant Eligibility for Federal Programs. NILC, updated 2024
- Health Care Coverage (Maps). NILC, 2024
- Health Insurance Coverage and Access to Care for Immigrants: Key Challenges and Policy Options. ASPE/HHS, 2021
- Key Facts on Health Coverage of Immigrants. KFF, updated 2024
- HHS Ends the Bar on Affordable Health Coverage for People With DACA. CBPP, 2024
- Food Over Fear: Overcoming Barriers to Connect Latinx Immigrant Families to Federal Nutrition and Food Programs. FRAC and NILC, 2020
- Mixed-Status Families and Immigrant Families with Children Continued Avoiding Safety Net Programs in 2023. Urban Institute, 2024.
- Medicaid cuts state economic impact. Coalition for Whole Health, 2025. Fact sheets on Medicaid’s economic impact in Arizona, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.