The U.S. Justice Department has released a legal opinion indicating that states could lose federal funding if they fail to report illegal immigrants. This guidance affects states receiving funds from key federal programs.
The Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel asserts that states involved in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs must report individuals known to be illegally in the U.S.
This new interpretation reverses a previous view from the Clinton administration that applied the reporting requirement more narrowly, only to specific state agencies.
According to Assistant Attorney General T. Elliot Gaiser, accepting TANF funding obliges states to report illegal immigrants.
The federal policy does not retroactively change agreements and only applies to future funding arrangements.
The decision may prompt states to reconsider their participation in these federal assistance programs.
The DOJ clarified that "knowledge" of a person's illegal status can come from various sources, including government records or individual admissions.
There may be legal challenges to funding withdrawal, as federal courts have previously blocked similar attempts.
This policy shift could have significant nationwide implications, influencing how states interact with federal immigration enforcement and funding programs.
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