Why we should be concerned about the number of Immigrants on government support
By Easton Martin | February 24, 2026
New data from the 2021 Survey of Income and Program Participation shows a stark difference in how much households headed by immigrants rely on welfare compared to those headed by U.S. born citizens.
According to the report, 52.7 percent of immigrant households utilize at least one welfare program, while the number for native households sits much lower at 37.3 percent. This gap has created a growing debate over the financial strain placed on the nation’s public resources.
The figures break down usage across several key areas like food aid and healthcare. In the food assistance category, 34.8 percent of immigrant households receive benefits through programs such as SNAP or WIC, compared to 21.7 percent of native households. Medicaid usage shows a similar trend, with 39.0 percent of immigrant led households enrolled versus 26.3 percent of U.S. born families. Even when looking at traditional nuclear families, immigrant households still participate at a rate of 48.2 percent, significantly higher than the 33.1 percent seen in native families.
Many looking at these numbers are concerned about the long term cost to taxpayers. The data reveals that non-citizen households have the highest usage rates at 58.0 percent. While the rate drops to 48.7 percent for naturalized citizens, it still stays far above the level of the U.S. born population.
The scale of this assistance is massive, especially considering there are nearly 20 million immigrant headed households nationwide. The current system is drawing in people who need immediate public support rather than prioritizing economic self sufficiency, and that is a position which our country must fundamentally uproot in all forms.
