Benefits for Illegal Aliens: Some Program Costs Increasing, But Total
Costs Unknown (Testimony, 09/29/93, GAO/T-HRD-93-33).

The benefits available to illegal aliens and their U.S. citizen children
make up a small but rising percentage of costs for some government
programs, such as Medicaid, public education, and food stamps.  Existing
cost estimates, however, provide at best a sketchy picture of the
situation.  Illegal aliens are not required to reveal their status to
receive some benefits; in other cases, officials are prohibited from
asking about alien status.  National cost data are only available for
welfare benefits, which in fiscal year 1992 totaled $479 million for
illegal aliens with children who are U.S. citizens.  The five states
accounting for nearly 80 percent of the illegal immigrant
population--California, Texas, New York, Illinois, and Florida--pegged
the total cost of federal, state, and local aid to illegal aliens at
about $2.9 billion.  The costs of providing these benefits appear to be
on the upswing. These cost estimates, however, exclude government
revenues attributable to illegal aliens.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  T-HRD-93-33
     TITLE:  Benefits for Illegal Aliens: Some Program Costs Increasing, 
             But Total Costs Unknown
      DATE:  09/29/93
   SUBJECT:  Illegal aliens
             Children
             Immigration and naturalization law
             Entitlement programs
             Cost analysis
             Eligibility criteria
             Federal aid programs
             Economic analysis
             State-administered programs
             Aid to families with dependent children
IDENTIFIER:  AFDC
             Medicaid Program
             California
             Texas
             New York
             Illinois
             Florida
             Food Stamp Program
             
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