WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — Update: The bill passed in the Senate on a bipartisan vote of 58-42. The bill blocks stimulus payments from undocumented immigrants but will have no impact on payment eligibility for mixed-status families.
PREVIOUS STORY:
Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Senator Todd Young of Indiana introduced an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget that would prohibit illegal immigrants from receiving stimulus payments in the future.
Currently, the bill seems unwarranted as undocumented immigrants have not received stimulus checks because they do not have social security numbers. House members have pushed for relief funds for undocumented immigrants in the past. The Biden Administration's plan for another round of $1,400 stimulus payments does not include payments to undocumented immigrants.
According to our Verify team, family members of undocumented immigrants are eligible for these payments, so long as they qualify. They must be citizens or green card holders, with a social security number to collect stimulus checks.
Stimulus payments were first authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help provide relief to Americans and spur economic activity in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
“The Biden administration shouldn’t reward illegal immigrants for breaking our laws by giving them check," Senator Cotton said. "Instead of courting foreigners with U.S. taxpayer funds, President Biden should use that money to aid American schools, businesses, and families.”
If passed, the amendment would ensure money only goes to American residents.
“Economic Impact Payments were intended to provide a lifeline to Americans struggling to make ends meet during the coronavirus pandemic," said Senator Young. "They were not intended for people who are in our country illegally. Our amendment would ensure that people who break our immigration laws aren’t receiving taxpayer-funded handouts.”
Text of the amendment is available here.