Federal immigration agents backed by National Guard troops raided two state-licensed marijuana nurseries in Southern California on Thursday, detaining dozens of farmworkers and sparking widespread protests. The raids—part of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation initiative—targeted Glass House Farms facilities in Carpinteria and Camarillo, escalating tensions in a region already on edge over immigration enforcement.
Video footage appeared to show a protester firing a weapon at federal agents amid the raid on Thursday. U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael W. Banks condemned the incident, saying that “violence against law enforcement will not be tolerated” and pledged “serious consequences” for anyone who targets federal personnel. His remarks echoed a broader message from CBP officials, who said the suspect would face “the full force of federal prosecution.”
What to Know:
ICE agents conducted raids at Glass House Farms sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo
About 100 farmworkers were reportedly detained before protests erupted
Tear gas and crowd-control munitions were deployed during clashes with activists
The United Farm Workers union reported missing workers following the July 10 ICE enforcement operation at Glass House Farms in Oxnard, California
The union says some unaccounted individuals include U.S. citizens, raising concerns about the scope and conduct of the raid
Migrant-rights groups and local officials condemned the raids as “militarized” and “traumatizing”
U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal was denied access to the Carpinteria site during the operation
Glass House Farms said it complied with search warrants and had been previously visited by ICE in June
The Trump administration has reversed its stance multiple times on farmworker deportations
Farm industry leaders warn that mass deportations could cripple the U.S. food supply chain
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03:55 PM EDT
UFW confirms injuries, missing workers after Ventura County raids
The United Farm Workers union says several farm workers were critically injured during federal immigration raids at agricultural sites in Ventura County on July 10.
The enforcement actions, which included tear gas and rubber bullets, left others—including U.S. citizens—unaccounted for, according to union officials.
The UFW can confirm farm workers were critically injured yesterday during chaotic raids in Ventura County, CA. Other workers, including US citizens, remain unaccounted for.
UFW staff is on the ground supporting impacted families.
Our full statement below. ⬇️
1/ pic.twitter.com/WT7zHw6PBp
— United Farm Workers (@UFWupdates) July 11, 2025
03:30 PM EDT
Republicans are changing their tune on immigration: poll
Republicans appear to be changing their views on immigration policies, while the majority still support President Donald Trump in the way he is handling the issue.
A new poll from Gallup Friday shows a steep drop among Republicans wanting immigration levels into the U.S. decreased – falling from 88 percent in 2024 down to 48 percent in June. The same survey showed an uptick in Republicans who see immigration as having a positive effect on the U.S.
03:00 PM EDT
Tricia McLaughlin: ‘Sanctuary politicians are demonizing ICE and CBP’
Federal immigration officers came under fire Thursday while executing criminal search warrants at two marijuana grow sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo, California. According to the Department of Homeland Security, ICE and CBP agents rescued at least 10 migrant children from suspected forced labor and trafficking, and arrested approximately 200 undocumented individuals during the operation.
The raids sparked chaos as more than 500 protesters clashed with law enforcement. One individual, caught on video firing a pistol at agents, remains at large. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the shooter’s arrest.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin condemned the violence, stating, “While ICE and CBP officers are being assaulted by rioters and dodging bullets to save children, Sanctuary politicians are demonizing ICE and CBP. We will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law anyone who assaults or doxes federal law enforcement.”
The raids targeted facilities operated by Glass House Farms, which DHS claims employed minors in violation of labor laws. The company denies knowingly hiring underage workers and says it complied with federal warrants.
The investigation into child labor and immigration violations is ongoing.
02:30 PM EDT
Anaheim father detained in ICE raid sparks community outcry
Gilberto Gomez-Garcia, an undocumented immigrant and longtime car wash worker in Anaheim, was arrested by federal agents on July 3 during a workplace raid, despite his family’s warnings and fears.
The father of three, originally from Colima, Mexico, had worked at the same location for over 20 years. His daughter, Andrea, said he had dreamt of being taken by ICE the night before—an eerie premonition that became reality. Gomez-Garcia suffered an eye injury during the arrest and was later transferred to Adelanto ICE Detention Center.
His family has launched a GoFundMe campaign and held a community fundraiser to support his legal fight, insisting he is “no criminal” but a devoted provider.
02:02 PM EDT
OPINION: Donald Trump, Deep State Swamp Monster | Opinion
Editor’s Note: This article is a lightly edited transcript of an excerpt from an episode of Newsweek Radio.
President Donald Trump‘s most loyal supporters are being forced to confront something they never thought possible. The man they believed was sent to destroy the “deep state” now looks more and more like a card-carrying member of it. For all the years of “drain the swamp” sloganeering, it’s becoming harder to ignore the swamp water sloshing around his ankles.
Trump is now sending weapons to Ukraine after the Pentagon tried to stop a shipment. He is floating the idea of a form of amnesty for undocumented immigrants working on farms and in hotels. He is pushing a bloated spending bill that real fiscal conservatives would have torched ten years ago. And looming behind all of it is the Jeffrey Epstein scandal that simply refuses to disappear, no matter how many times Trump tries to swat it away.
The result? MAGA is in full-blown meltdown mode. And it’s not just the fringe edges. This time, it’s the core. The same influencers who built their brands on unwavering loyalty—people like Charlie Kirk, Michael Savage, Alex Jones, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Tucker Carlson—are beginning to second-guess the man they helped turn into a political messiah. Not because they have suddenly developed a moral compass, but because the contradictions are piling up too fast to ignore.
This moment, more than any other during Trump’s two presidencies, is revealing. He’s not just screwing over the general public. He appears to be willfully severing ties with his own base, the very people who treated him like a savior. And what’s so bizarre about it is that he clearly knows what he’s doing. Trump has always had an uncanny instinct for what his followers want to hear, which is what makes this shift so fascinating. He’s making moves that directly contradict the promises that got him elected in the first place.
01:02 PM EDT
Padilla slams Trump deportation agenda, cites surge in public support for immigration
Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, issued the following statement after Gallup released a new poll showing a sharp increase in support for immigration and broad disapproval of President Trump’s mass deportation agenda:
“The numbers don’t lie: the majority of Americans agree that immigration is overwhelmingly good for our country and our economy. As the nation watches Donald Trump and Stephen Miller’s cruel policies separate families and sow fear in our communities — in our parks, our restaurants, our hospitals — they’ve become deeply unpopular, sparking a fierce backlash from the public and uniting people across the country against the President’s mass deportation agenda.
“We know our economy depends on the essential contributions of immigrants. California is the fourth-largest economy in the world not in spite of immigrants, but because of their contributions not only as a workforce, but as consumers and as entrepreneurs.
“Now is the time to finally deliver a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, farm workers, and other long-term residents of our nation who have been living and working in the shadows for far too long.”
12:46 PM EDT
Bass signs executive directive to shield immigrants from federal raids
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass signed Executive Directive No. 12 on Friday, ordering city departments to prepare for federal immigration enforcement actions amid what she called “unlawful and chaotic” raids across the region.
The directive mandates training protocols, immigrant affairs liaisons, and immediate reporting of federal activity. It also establishes a new LAPD-led working group and seeks federal records through a Freedom of Information Act request.
Bass spoke about the need to protect immigrant communities and city workers, citing recent militarized operations in MacArthur Park and Ventura County as efforts to intimidate.
“I just want to repeat the irony that I am going to sign an executive directive to help the city family understand how to protect the workforce and Angelenos from our federal government,” she said.
12:22 PM EDT
Federal Court restrains LAPD from targeting journalists at protests
A federal judge has granted a temporary restraining order against the Los Angeles Police Department, siding with the Los Angeles Press Club and independent media outlet Status Coup over alleged repeated mistreatment of journalists covering immigration-related protests.
The order, issued July 10, follows evidence of over 35 incidents in which reporters were allegedly shoved, tear-gassed, shot with rubber bullets, or arrested while documenting protests in downtown Los Angeles throughout June. Among the plaintiffs was photojournalist Michael Nigro, who was shot in the head with a less-lethal munition while positioned on a bridge well above the protests.
U.S. District Judge Hernán D. Vera ruled that the LAPD violated journalists’ constitutional rights, particularly the First Amendment, and that similar harm was “imminent and concrete.” Citing recent California laws (SB 98 and AB 48) that affirm press access and limit police use of force, the court ordered LAPD to stop dispersing or assaulting journalists and restrict the use of crowd-control weapons unless a journalist poses an imminent threat.
The order remains in effect for 14 days, with a preliminary injunction hearing scheduled for July 24.
12:02 PM EDT
WATCH: DHS official addresses exploitation of migrant children at California marijuana site
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin of the Department of Homeland Security spoke out following a worksite enforcement operation in Ventura County, California, where she said eight unaccompanied migrant children were rescued from a marijuana facility.
🎥Watch DHS Public Affairs Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin discuss the unaccompanied minors found during a California worksite enforcement operation at a marijuana facility — being exploited and potentially trafficked. https://t.co/SXD6X3qAHm
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) July 11, 2025
11:35 AM EDT
Tom Homan admits uncertainty over migrants deported to South Sudan
Tom Homan, the Trump administration’s border czar, acknowledged Friday that he does not know the current status of eight men deported to South Sudan under the administration’s revived third-country deportation policy. “They’re free as far as we’re concerned,” Homan told Politico. “Will they stay in Sudan? I don’t know.”
The men—convicted of violent crimes in the U.S.—hail from Myanmar, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, and Mexico. Only one has ties to South Sudan, a country still recovering from civil war. After a legal standoff and weeks of detention at a U.S. military base in Djibouti, the men were flown to Juba following two Supreme Court rulings that cleared the way for third-country removals.
South Sudanese officials confirmed the men are in custody and undergoing screening. Homan defended the administration’s broader strategy, saying deals with other nations—including El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Rwanda—are being pursued to expand deportation options.
11:19 AM EDT
Trump administration moves to block undocumented children from Head Start
The Trump administration announced Thursday it will bar undocumented immigrants from enrolling in Head Start, a federally funded preschool program that has served low-income families for six decades. The Department of Health and Human Services said it will reclassify Head Start and similar programs as federal public benefits, making immigration status a condition for eligibility.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the change is part of a broader effort to “restore integrity” to social programs and prioritize American citizens. Critics, including the National Head Start Association, warned the move will sow fear and confusion among families and undermine decades of inclusive policy. The Education, Agriculture, and Labor departments also announced similar restrictions affecting adult education, workforce development, and community health centers.
10:59 AM EDT
Stephen Miller’s immigration crackdown triggers backlash—even from Trump
U.S. immigration enforcement surged under senior White House aide Stephen Miller, who set a daily quota of 3,000 arrests and pushed ICE into more communities and workplaces. The aggressive tactics—masked agents at restaurants, Marines on city streets—sparked protests and political tension, even prompting Trump to briefly pause raids after realizing their scale.
Miller’s influence has grown dramatically in Trump’s second term, with sweeping policies targeting birthright citizenship, legal immigration, and refugee programs. Critics say his approach prioritizes deportation numbers over public safety, while allies praise his loyalty and strategic vision. Despite a momentary pause, ICE resumed raids days later, leaving officials uncertain about enforcement boundaries.
Miller now oversees the Homeland Security Council and plays a central role in shaping domestic policy. His crackdown continues to draw fire from Democrats and immigrant advocates, who accuse him of stoking nativism and cruelty. Even within Trump’s team, the episode revealed rare internal friction over how far enforcement should go.
10:48 AM EDT
ICE agents arrest 71-year-old US citizen in California: ‘Traumatized’
A federal agent wears a badge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement while standing outside an immigration courtroom at the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in New York, Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
A federal agent wears a badge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement while standing outside an immigration courtroom at the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in New York, Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents temporarily detained a 71-year-old U.S. citizen in California, leaving her “traumatized.”
Barbara Stone on Wednesday was removed from a San Diego courthouse, which she attended to observe proceedings and the behavior of federal agents. An agent at the scene said she had pushed her.
Newsweek contacted ICE representatives and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for comment.
President Donald Trump has made immigration a priority, vowing to carry out mass deportations and arrest people in the country illegally.
ICE has run numerous operations to arrest migrants. There have been protests against Trump’s immigration policy, the most high-profile of which took place in Los Angeles in June when a series of immigration raids sparked a large protest and some incidents of violence and looting.
10:22 AM EDT
ICE makes arrests in nationwide immigration sweep
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has touted several Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents they have made this week.
ICE Atlanta arrested Julio Celaya-Soto, a citizen of El Salvador who was convicted of second-degree murder in Guilford County, North Carolina.
In Detroit, ICE officers detained Lazaro Vladimir Martinez-Argundi, a Cuban national with convictions for distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material in Lansing, Michigan.
ICE Houston arrested Jose Angel Garcia-Espino, a citizen of Mexico, who was convicted of assaulting a household member by strangulation in Moore County, Texas.
In New York City, ICE took into custody Miguel Angel Salmeron-Granados, a citizen of El Salvador who was convicted of first-degree sexual abuse involving a child under the age of 11 in Suffolk County, New York.
ICE Salt Lake City arrested Guadalupe Cuevas-Sotelo, a Mexican national, with convictions for sexual abuse of a child and attempted rape in Utah.
“These are not minor offenses. These are predators, abusers, and murderers who should have never been in our country in the first place,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a statement shared with Newsweek. “Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, DHS is delivering on its promise to restore law and order and defend American families. If you are in this country illegally and have harmed others–your days here are numbered.”
All individuals arrested will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
The brave men and women of law enforcement continue to work day and night removing the WORST OF THE WORST off of America’s streets.
Meet Jose Angel Garcia-Espino, a 31-year-old citizen of Mexico. Garcia’s criminal history includes a conviction for assault of a family/household… pic.twitter.com/YbQ1IptDDc
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) July 10, 2025
10:06 AM EDT
Pregnant wife says ICE agents beat her husband during workplace raid
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent stands outside the Delaney Hall Detention Facility during protests over federal immigration enforcement raids on Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Newark, N.J.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent stands outside the Delaney Hall Detention Facility during protests over federal immigration enforcement raids on Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Newark, N.J.
Olga Fedorova/AP
A 7-month pregnant woman has told Newsweek immigration agents beat her Venezuelan husband after he tried to evade detention.
Carla Rodríguez said 21-year-old Reinel Fernando Acosta Rodríguez was beaten as he tried to flee from agents at the Illinois warehouse where he worked last month.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has denied the claims, telling Newsweek they were “categorically false,” and that Acosta Rodríguez was detained as he attempted to flee the scene.
The detention comes under President Donald Trump’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants. The White House has said anyone living in the U.S. illegally is considered to be a “criminal.”
The administration is enacting plans to carry out what it calls the largest deportation operation in U.S. history as part of the Republicans‘ hardline immigration agenda.
Acosta Rodríguez – an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela who, according to his wife, had been in the process of applying for asylum – was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on June 6.
09:52 AM EDT
Democratic congressman denied entry during ice raid, slams ‘militarized’ tactics
Democratic Congressman Salud Carbajal tried to enter the area secured by federal agents but was denied access and turned away during an immigration raid in Carpinteria. Rep. Carbajal: “Today, I was at Casitas Pass Road in Carpinteria where ICE was conducting a raid using disproportionate displays of force against local farm workers and our agricultural community.
As a member of Congress and representative of the Central Coast, I have the right to conduct oversight and see first-hand what ICE was doing here. As soon as I walked up, I was denied entry and was not allowed to pass. This was completely unacceptable. There’s been a troubling lack of transparency from ICE since the Trump Administration started, and I won’t stop asking questions on behalf of my constituents.
I will be demanding answers from the Department of Homeland Security to find out who they detained and where the detainees are being taken. And let me be clear: these militarized ICE raids are not how you keep our communities safe. This kind of chaos only traumatizes families and tears communities apart. They are also a gross misuse of limited resources and a betrayal of the values that define us as Americans.”
09:37 AM EDT
Border Patrol arrest MS-13 gang member in Michigan
Detroit Border Patrol agents arrest MS-13 gang member | U.S. Customs and Border Protection US Border Patrol agents in Michigan apprehended two men from El Salvador, including one who admitted to being a member of the MS-13 gang, according to a press release from Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Agents from the Border Patrol’s Detroit Station responded to a request for assistance from local law enforcement in Sterling Heights on Sunday, July 6. The two men had been involved in an altercation at a local motel when officers detained them and called in Border Patrol.
Record checks confirmed that both individuals were in the United States without legal status. During interviews, one of the men told agents he is an MS13 gang member, a group designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, and that he had previously served 20 years in a Salvadoran prison for murdering a rival gang member.
Authorities also seized more than five grams of crystal methamphetamine during the incident.
“This is a major win for the U.S. Border Patrol and the safety of our communities,” said Detroit Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Javier Geronimo Jr. “This arrest is a clear example of how agents and our law enforcement partners are protecting our towns by removing violent criminals from our country.”
Both men remain in federal custody pending further investigation and removal proceedings.
09:20 AM EDT
ICE announces arrest of Mexico citizen
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in New Orleans has announced the arrest of Julio Torres Gonzalez, a citizen of Mexico.
According to ICE, Torres Gonzalez has a criminal record that includes convictions for sexual assault of a child, possession of cocaine, and failure to identify with intent to provide false information.
Agents say Torres Gonzalez was taken into custody as part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to locate and remove individuals who pose a threat to public safety.
Authorities have not yet released additional details about the circumstances of the arrest.
🚨SEXUAL PREDATOR ARRESTED: ICE New Orleans arrested Julio TORRES Gonzalez, a citizen of Mexico. TORRES’s criminal history includes convictions for:
💥Sexual Assault of a Child
💥Possession of Cocaine
💥Failure to Identify w/ Intent to give False Information pic.twitter.com/6jhAnzRxyM
— ICE New Orleans (@ERONewOrleans) July 11, 2025
09:06 AM EDT
Border Patrol officials react to protester with gun at raid
U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael W. Banks reacted to a protester with a gun at a recent raid in California, saying: “Violence against law enforcement will not be tolerated. There will be serious consequences.”
Likewise, U.S. Border Patrol Agent Gregory K. Bovino wrote on X about the occurrence: “Our agents on the ground have to deal with this absolute lawlessness while serving a lawfully issued judicial warrant on a CA business suspected of hiring and harboring illegal aliens. The subject below is wanted for questioning in a possible deadly assault on law enforcement.”
08:53 AM EDT
Some arrested in Buckeye raid face new charges for illegal reentry
Several individuals arrested during a June 25 immigration raid at Buckeye Fire Equipment in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, are now facing federal charges for illegal reentry into the United States after prior deportations — a felony offense under U.S. law. The raid, led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), targeted the alleged use of fraudulent documents to secure employment at the facility.
Workers described the operation as chaotic and frightening, with agents reportedly separating employees into groups and questioning their immigration status. Outside the building, protesters gathered in support of the detained workers, while advocacy groups like the Carolina Migrant Network warned of the broader impact on families and local businesses.
ICE has confirmed the investigation remains active, per WCNC, and additional charges may follow as federal authorities continue reviewing evidence.
08:30 AM EDT
Birthright citizenship faces Supreme Court climax
Demonstrators holds up an anti-Trump sign outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on June 27, 2025.
Demonstrators holds up an anti-Trump sign outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on June 27, 2025.
Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty Images
The legal fight over President Donald Trump‘s executive order restricting birthright citizenship could soon return to the U.S. Supreme Court.
A judge in New Hampshire on Thursday blocked Trump’s order ending birthright citizenship for children born to those without legal status from taking effect anywhere in the U.S.
Judge Joseph LaPlante, who Republican President George W. Bush appointed, issued a preliminary injunction and certified a class-action lawsuit that includes all children who will be affected.
The judge’s decision comes just weeks after the Supreme Court limited judges’ authority to issue nationwide injunctions in Trump v. CASA without settling the underlying question of the constitutionality of Trump’s order.
The court didn’t rule out whether judges could accomplish much the same thing by a different legal means, a class action.
Birthright citizenship, enshrined in the Constitution’s 14th Amendment, makes anyone born in the U.S. an American citizen, including children born to mothers in the country illegally.
08:16 AM EDT
Georgia journalist faces deportation after protest arrest
Mario Guevara, a Salvadoran journalist who runs MG News, remains in federal immigration custody nearly a month after being arrested while covering a protest in DeKalb County, Georgia. Guevara, who has lived in the U.S. for over two decades and holds work authorization, was livestreaming the “No Kings” demonstration when police detained him despite his press credentials.
Though initial charges were dropped and an immigration judge granted him bond, ICE has blocked his release, citing unresolved legal status. Guevara’s attorneys say the arrest and continued detention are politically motivated, targeting his coverage of immigration enforcement. Press freedom advocates, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, have condemned the move.
Guevara’s case has drawn international attention, with calls for intervention from Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. He remains held at the Folkston ICE Processing Center as deportation proceedings continue.
07:50 AM EDT
IN PICTURES: Confrontation between federal officials and protestors in California
A demonstrator walks in front of federal agents blocking a road during an immigration raid in Camarillo, Calif., Thursday, July 10, 2025.
A demonstrator walks in front of federal agents blocking a road during an immigration raid in Camarillo, Calif., Thursday, July 10, 2025.
Michael Owen Baker/AP Photo
A demonstrator kneels in front of federal agents in a farm field during an immigration raid in Camarillo, Calif., Thursday, July 10, 2025.
A demonstrator kneels in front of federal agents in a farm field during an immigration raid in Camarillo, Calif., Thursday, July 10, 2025.
Michael Owen Baker/AP Photo
Arturo Rangel hugs Judith Ramos whose father works at the greenhouse in the background as federal immigration agents block access during a raid in the agriculture area of Camarillo, Calif., Thursday, July 10, 2025.
Arturo Rangel hugs Judith Ramos whose father works at the greenhouse in the background as federal immigration agents block access during a raid in the agriculture area of Camarillo, Calif., Thursday, July 10, 2025.
Michael Owen Baker/AP Photo
07:37 AM EDT
Immigration seen as ‘good’ by record number of Americans, Gallup finds
A new Gallup poll shows a dramatic shift in public opinion on immigration, with 79% of U.S. adults now saying it’s “a good thing” for the country — the highest level recorded in nearly 25 years. The rise includes a sharp increase among Republicans, 66% of whom now view immigration positively, up from just 39% last year.
The poll comes months after President Donald Trump returned to office vowing mass deportations. Despite his aggressive enforcement agenda, the share of Americans who want immigration decreased has dropped from 55% to 30%. Support for pathways to citizenship has also grown, with nearly 9 in 10 Americans backing legal status for undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.
Gallup’s findings suggest that while Trump’s policies remain divisive, Americans across party lines are increasingly embracing immigration as a benefit to the nation.
07:23 AM EDT
Donald Trump announces major benefits change for millions of migrants
FILE – President Donald Trump signs an executive order on birthright citizenship in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Jan. 20, 2025.
FILE – President Donald Trump signs an executive order on birthright citizenship in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Jan. 20, 2025.
Evan Vucci/AP
President Donald Trump‘s administration announced sweeping new restrictions on access to federal benefits for undocumented immigrants.
Under the directives, multiple federal agencies will tighten eligibility requirements for a range of publicly funded programs. The White House said the move was intended to protect taxpayer-funded benefits for American citizens and legal residents while aligning with Trump’s hard-line immigration agenda.
Under U.S. law, undocumented immigrants are already barred from receiving most federal public benefits, including from programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid—except for emergency care. However, they can access K-12 public education and certain emergency services. In some cases, mixed-status families with U.S.-born children may receive benefits indirectly.