DHS demands records amid claims undocumented migrants received taxpayer-funded benefits—Los Angeles first, but not the last.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has launched an investigation into California’s Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) amid allegations that public benefits may have been improperly provided to undocumented immigrants.
On Monday, May 12, President Donald Trump’s Republican administration confirmed it had issued a Title 8 subpoena through Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS). The subpoena demands access to detailed program records dating back to January 2021, including applicant names, dates of birth, immigration status, copies of applications, documentation proving ineligibility for federal benefits such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and supporting affidavits.
The Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) is a 100% state-funded California program created to provide monthly cash benefits to elderly, blind, or disabled immigrants who do not qualify for federal programs like SSI/SSP solely because of their immigration status.
To qualify, applicants must:
- Be non-U.S. citizens meeting specific immigration criteria;
- Be 65 years or older, blind, or disabled;
- Reside in California;
- Provide proof of SSI/SSP denial due to immigration status;
- Meet asset limits of $2,000 for individuals or $3,000 for couples;
- Successfully complete the full application process.
While CAPI was designed to serve legal non-citizens who fall through the cracks of federal support, federal investigators are now questioning whether undocumented immigrants, who are ineligible for both SSI and CAPI, may have improperly received aid.
The federal investigation, spearheaded by HSI’s Los Angeles office, aims to determine whether unauthorized immigrants accessed state-funded assistance or federal benefits they are not legally entitled to. DHS stated the probe is “just the beginning,” suggesting it could extend beyond Los Angeles County to other parts of California.
A key element of the probe is whether ineligible recipients may have also received federal SSI benefits administered by the Social Security Administration, which would constitute a violation of federal law.
The investigation aligns with President Trump’s broader political platform of prioritizing American taxpayers and combating what his administration sees as abuse of public benefit systems. DHS Director Kristi Noem, a vocal supporter of stricter immigration enforcement, echoed these sentiments in a statement Monday:
“The Trump Administration is working together to identify abuse and exploitation of public benefits and ensure that those in this country illegally do not receive federal benefits or other financial incentives to remain illegally.”
Noem has previously gained national attention for controversial public service announcements encouraging undocumented individuals to “self-deport.”
At this time, DHS has not confirmed whether the CAPI investigation will expand to other California counties or other state-level programs that provide assistance to non-citizens. However, federal officials have emphasized that the review of Los Angeles County is “just the beginning,” suggesting a broader crackdown may follow.
Advocates for immigrant communities argue that CAPI serves a vulnerable population of elderly and disabled non-citizens who are legally residing in the U.S. and lack access to federal safety nets. They caution that the federal inquiry could create a chilling effect, discouraging eligible individuals from applying for assistance they need to survive.
As the investigation unfolds, state and local officials are expected to face increased scrutiny, and legal battles over the rights of immigrants to receive public assistance may intensify.
