{
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      "date": "2016-10-28",
      "retrieved": "2020-01-02T15:15:49.564270",
      "title": "Unauthorized Aliens\u2019 Access to Federal Benefits: Policy and Issues",
      "summary": "Federal law bars aliens residing without authorization in the United States from most federal benefits; however, there is a widely held perception that many unauthorized aliens obtain such benefits. The degree to which unauthorized resident aliens should be accorded certain rights and privileges as a result of their residence in the United States, along with the duties owed by such aliens given their presence, remains the subject of debate in Congress. This report focuses on the policy and legislative debate surrounding unauthorized aliens\u2019 access to federal public benefits.\nExcept for a narrow set of specified emergency services and programs, unauthorized aliens are not eligible for federal public benefits. The law (\u00a7401(c) of P.L. 104-193) defines federal public benefit as\nany grant, contract, loan, professional license, or commercial license provided by an agency of the United States or by appropriated funds of the United States; and any retirement, welfare, health, disability, public or assisted housing, postsecondary education, food assistance, unemployment benefit, or any other similar benefit for which payments or assistance are provided to an individual, household, or family eligibility unit by an agency of the United States or by appropriated funds of the United States.\nThe actual number of unauthorized aliens in the United States is unknown. Researchers at Pew Research Center estimate that there were 11.1 million unauthorized immigrants living in the United States in March 2014. A noteworthy portion of the households headed by unauthorized aliens are likely to have U.S. citizen children, as well as spouses who may be legal permanent residents (LPRs), and are referred to as \u201cmixed status\u201d families. The number of U.S. citizen children in \u201cmixed status\u201d families has grown from 2.7 million in 2003 to 4.5 million in 2010. (This is the latest figure available as of the date of the report.)\nAlthough the law appears straightforward, the policy on unauthorized aliens\u2019 access to federal public benefits is peppered with ongoing controversies and debates. Some center on demographic issues, such as how to treat mixed-immigration-status families. Others explore unintended consequences, most notably when tightening up the identification requirements results in denying benefits to U.S. citizens. Still others are debates about how broadly the clause \u201cfederal public benefit\u201d should be implemented, particularly regarding tax credits and refunds.",
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      "id": 447851,
      "date": "2014-09-22",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-06T20:03:57.210472",
      "title": "Unauthorized Aliens\u2019 Access to Federal Benefits: Policy and Issues",
      "summary": "Federal law bars aliens residing without authorization in the United States from most federal benefits; however, there is a widely held perception that many unauthorized aliens obtain such benefits. The degree to which unauthorized resident aliens should be accorded certain rights and privileges as a result of their residence in the United States, along with the duties owed by such aliens given their presence, remains the subject of debate in Congress. This report focuses on the policy and legislative debate surrounding unauthorized aliens\u2019 access to federal benefits.\nExcept for a narrow set of specified emergency services and programs, unauthorized aliens are not eligible for federal public benefits. The law (\u00a7401(c) of P.L. 104-193) defines federal public benefit as\nany grant, contract, loan, professional license, or commercial license provided by an agency of the United States or by appropriated funds of the United States; and any retirement, welfare, health, disability, public or assisted housing, postsecondary education, food assistance, unemployment benefit, or any other similar benefit for which payments or assistance are provided to an individual, household, or family eligibility unit by an agency of the United States or by appropriated funds of the United States.\nThe actual number of unauthorized aliens in the United States is unknown. Researchers at Pew Research estimate that there were 11.3 million unauthorized immigrants living in the United States in March 2013. A noteworthy portion of the households headed by unauthorized aliens are likely to have U.S. citizen children, as well as spouses who may be legal permanent residents (LPRs), and are referred to as \u201cmixed status\u201d families. The number of U.S. citizen children in \u201cmixed status\u201d families has grown from 2.7 million in 2003 to 4.5 million in 2010. \nAlthough the law appears straightforward, the policy on unauthorized aliens\u2019 access to federal benefits is peppered with ongoing controversies and debates. Some center on demographic issues, such as how to treat mixed-immigration-status families. Others explore unintended consequences, most notably when tightening up the identification requirements results in denying benefits to U.S. citizens. Still others are debates about how broadly the clause \u201cfederal public benefit\u201d should be implemented, particularly regarding tax credits and refunds.",
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      "topics": [
        {
          "source": "IBCList",
          "id": 4326,
          "name": "Benefits and Services for Low-Income Households"
        }
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    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc811962/",
      "id": "RL34500_2012Sep17",
      "date": "2012-09-17",
      "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26",
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    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc94147/",
      "id": "RL34500_2011Dec09",
      "date": "2011-12-09",
      "retrieved": "2012-07-24T12:39:36",
      "title": "Unauthorized Aliens' Access to Federal Benefits: Policy and Issues",
      "summary": "This report focuses on the policy and legislative debate surrounding unauthorized aliens' access to federal benefits. Federal law bars aliens residing without authorization in the United States from most federal benefits; however, there is a widely held perception that many unauthorized aliens obtain such benefits. The degree to which unauthorized resident aliens should be accorded certain rights and privileges as a result of their residence in the United States, along with the duties owed by such aliens given their presence, remains the subject of debate in Congress.",
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          "id": "Illegal aliens",
          "name": "Illegal aliens"
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          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Alien labor",
          "name": "Alien labor"
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          "id": "Immigration",
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      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc822523/",
      "id": "RL34500_2011Sep16",
      "date": "2011-09-16",
      "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26",
      "title": "Unauthorized Aliens\u2019 Access to Federal Benefits: Policy and Issues",
      "summary": "The degree to which unauthorized resident aliens should be accorded certain rights and privileges as a result of their residence in the United States, along with the duties owed by such aliens given their presence, remains the subject of debate in Congress. Included among the specific policy areas that spark controversy are due process rights, tax liabilities, military service, eligibility for federal assistance, educational opportunities, and pathways to citizenship. This report focuses on the policy and legislative debate surrounding unauthorized aliens\u2019 access to federal benefits.",
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          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Illegal aliens",
          "name": "Illegal aliens"
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          "id": "Immigration",
          "name": "Immigration"
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          "id": "Alien labor",
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      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc689196/",
      "id": "RL34500_2009Aug20",
      "date": "2009-08-20",
      "retrieved": "2015-08-03T15:06:47",
      "title": "Unauthorized Aliens' Access to Federal Benefits: Policy and Issues",
      "summary": "This report focuses on the policy and legislative debate surrounding unauthorized aliens' access to federal benefits.",
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          "id": "Illegal aliens",
          "name": "Illegal aliens"
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          "id": "Immigration",
          "name": "Immigration"
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          "id": "Alien labor",
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      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc808061/",
      "id": "RL34500_2008May21",
      "date": "2008-05-21",
      "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26",
      "title": "Unauthorized Aliens\u2019 Access to Federal Benefits: Policy and Issues",
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  "topics": [
    "Immigration Policy",
    "Intelligence and National Security"
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}