Republicans are strategizing to prevent illegal immigrants paroled into the U.S. from accessing welfare and other benefits. Their plan involves utilizing the budget reconciliation process to bypass the Senate's 60-vote filibuster requirement.

Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) is spearheading this effort with the introduction of the "America First Act." This legislation seeks to modify the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act to explicitly exclude individuals residing in the country illegally from receiving benefits. This encompasses those granted asylum, paroled, or facing deportation.

Under this proposed legislation, ineligible individuals would be barred from programs like SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, CHIP, and certain housing benefits.

Senator Lee argues that the current narrative of illegal immigrants being ineligible for federal benefits is misleading, citing a "failure to secure our borders." He contends that millions of "paroled" illegal immigrants, often with fraudulent asylum claims, access programs intended for American families. He views the "America First Act" as a way to halt this "criminal redistribution scheme."

Representatives Chip Roy (R-TX) and Jodey Arrington (R-TX) are introducing companion legislation in the House. They echo Lee's concerns, emphasizing the strain on American communities and taxpayers due to the border crisis. Rep. Arrington highlights the significant financial burden, claiming the cost per illegal immigrant exceeds spending on Medicaid for vulnerable Americans or military retirement benefits.

Recognizing the difficulty of passing legislation through the standard Senate process, Republicans plan to utilize budget reconciliation. This process requires only a simple majority, making it a viable path for enacting key priorities of President-elect Donald Trump. Senator Lee is currently working to include the policy in the upcoming budget reconciliation package, potentially offsetting costs associated with border security.

Lee's office references a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report highlighting the significant financial impact of the immigration surge on federal programs. The report estimates a $0.3 trillion increase in outlays for mandatory programs and net interest spending over the 2024-2034 period.

The Republican bill also aims to restrict non-citizens' access to educational, healthcare, housing benefits, disaster aid, and tax credits. The White House has not yet commented on the proposed legislation.