A study carried out in 2023 by the Center for Immigration Studies found that a significant number of illegal immigrant households are using public welfare programs.

However, two senior members of the Trump administration announced this week that they are looking to end that practice. 

"American tax dollars should be used for the benefit of American citizens"

According to Breitbart, that was made clear on Monday in a joint statement from Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem.

The pair unveiled something called the "American Housing Programs for American Citizens" memorandum, which aims to ensure that "taxpayer-funded housing programs are not used to harbor or benefit illegal aliens."

"American tax dollars should be used for the benefit of American citizens, especially when it comes to an issue as pressing as our nation’s housing crisis," Turner said.

Under @POTUS, Americans will no longer take a back seat to illegal aliens.

DHS @Sec_Noem and I want to make it clear: No more taxpayer-funded housing for illegals. pic.twitter.com/DWvYlSHEqg

— Scott Turner (@SecretaryTurner) March 24, 2025

"This new agreement will leverage resources, including technology and personnel, to ensure the American people are the only priority when it comes to public housing," he stressed.

Noem accuses prior administration of favoring illegals "over our own citizens"

"We will continue to work closely with DHS to maximize our resources and put American citizens first," the HUD secretary went on to pledge.

Fox News noted that Noem spoke up with a statement of her own in which she slammed the Biden administration's immigration policies.

Specifically, she accused the former president of siding with illegal migrants "over our own citizens, including by giving illegal aliens taxpayer-funding housing at the expense of Americans."

"The entire government will work together to identify abuse and exploitation of public benefits and make sure those in this country illegally are not receiving federal benefits or other financial incentives to stay illegally," Noem said.

DHS secretary to illegal migrants: "The gravy train is over"

"If you are an illegal immigrant, you should leave now," the DHS secretary asserted before adding that "[t]he gravy train is over."

Meanwhile, Breitbart reported that Noem also highlighted recent deportation numbers during a White House cabinet meeting on Monday.

"We are, in the month of March — the last couple of weeks, increased our deportations by 50%," she explained. "So, we’re now not even just getting the worst of the worst out, we’re making sure that there’s consequences for being here and committing crimes in our communities."