California Hit With Federal Subpoena Over Allegations of Illegal Immigrant Benefit Abuse
The Department of Homeland Security has launched a formal investigation into the state of California over concerns that its public assistance program may have illegally provided benefits to undocumented immigrants.
At the heart of the federal probe is the California Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI), which serves certain non-citizens who are ineligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) due to their immigration status. The program is now facing a sweeping federal subpoena, with investigators seeking detailed records from January 2021 to the present, focusing on whether federal benefits were unlawfully distributed to ineligible individuals.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services, which administers CAPI, has been ordered to turn over records including names, applications, immigration status documents, Social Security denial letters, and affidavits. Federal authorities want to know whether individuals residing in the U.S. illegally accessed public benefits meant exclusively for those with lawful status.
In a statement issued by DHS, Secretary Kristi Noem did not mince words: “Radical left politicians in California prioritize illegal aliens over our own citizens, including by giving illegal aliens access to cash benefits.” Noem added that while the subpoena currently focuses on Los Angeles County, “this is just the beginning.”
The investigation follows President Donald Trump’s April 2025 executive memorandum—“Preventing Illegal Aliens from Obtaining Social Security Act Benefits”—which directed multiple federal departments to enforce restrictions on public benefits access. The order also mandates enforcement actions against local and state governments that may be violating federal welfare laws, particularly Title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA).
University of California, Davis law professor Kevin R. Johnson told ABC7 that “only lawful immigrants can receive the benefits of the cash program,” noting that applicants must present specific documentation proving their ineligibility for SSI and their legal status or protection status. However, Johnson added that it’s unclear whether any actual violations have occurred.
“The question here is whether there is any real evidence that the program has been abused in some way,” Johnson said. “There is no real reason to think that there is, but the Trump administration wouldn’t launch this probe without a reason.”
The California Governor’s Office responded by saying that the CAPI program is designed for “individuals with lawful status, legal protections, or those applying for them, including victims of crime and trafficking.”
Yet, according to a recent DHS release, more than 2 million ineligible illegal immigrants were issued Social Security numbers during fiscal year 2024 alone—raising further questions about oversight, eligibility verification, and potential loopholes.
While the subpoena doesn’t confirm wrongdoing, it reflects a growing trend under the Trump administration to tighten control over benefit distribution and increase enforcement pressure on so-called “sanctuary” policies and programs.
Whether this inquiry will lead to criminal charges, civil penalties, or further restrictions on federal funding remains unknown—but the message from DHS is clear: the federal government is watching, and more subpoenas may follow.
