Trump’s Labor Dept. Puts Every State on Notice Over Benefits for Illegal Aliens [WATCH]

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a warning to governors across the United States and its territories, instructing them to prevent illegal immigrants from claiming unemployment benefits or risk losing federal funding.

In a letter dated April 24, United States Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer emphasized that protecting taxpayer dollars from misuse is a top priority.

“[I]t is critical that we ensure American taxpayer dollars do not go towards encouraging or rewarding illegal immigration to the United States,” Chavez-DeRemer wrote to each governor.

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Chavez-DeRemer reminded the governors that lawful employment authorization is required to secure employment and, consequently, to qualify for unemployment benefits.

“Unemployment benefits are not a handout for those in our country illegally,” Chavez-DeRemer stated.

The directive aligns with President Donald Trump’s previous presidential memorandum aimed at preventing illegal immigrants from accessing social security benefits, as well as his executive order seeking to ensure taxpayer funds do not incentivize illegal immigration.

Chavez-DeRemer urged governors to utilize the Department of Homeland Security’s immigration database to verify the eligibility of unemployment benefit applicants.

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She described the database as “a critical tool in the toolbox in ensuring that illegal immigrants do not access our nation’s unemployment benefits.”

The letter warned that states failing to comply with “their existing legal obligations regarding immigrant access to unemployment benefits” could lose their Title III Unemployment Insurance (UI) administrative grants.

Title III of the Social Security Act, administered by the DOL, provides states with federal grants to support the administration of unemployment insurance programs for qualified individuals.

Among those who received Chavez-DeRemer’s letter was Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom.

Newsom previously vetoed legislation that would have allowed illegal immigrants to receive financial assistance similar to unemployment benefits.

In September 2024, Newsom vetoed a Democrat-sponsored bill aimed at amending state labor laws to extend financial aid to unemployed workers who are ineligible for unemployment insurance due to their immigration status, according to Reuters.

In the weeks leading up to that decision, Newsom also vetoed separate bills.

One would have permitted illegal immigrants to purchase homes using state-backed loans, and another would have allowed undocumented college students to work on campuses across California, according to reporting from Politico and CalMatters.

In Washington State, Democratic State Senator Rebecca Saldaña introduced a bill in January proposing the creation of a wage replacement program specifically for illegal aliens.

The legislation received a public hearing on February 26 before the Senate Committee on Ways & Means and “awaits further action,” Saldaña reported.

The Department of Labor’s warning reflects the Trump administration’s broader efforts to tighten control over public benefits and ensure they are restricted to those legally authorized to live and work in the United States.

Officials have reiterated that maintaining the integrity of unemployment insurance programs is critical to sustaining public trust and preserving resources for lawful workers.

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