In a major move aimed at protecting taxpayers and restoring law and order, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Friday that the Trump administration is taking immediate steps to cut off federal benefits for illegal aliens.
The announcement follows President Donald Trump’s Thanksgiving message criticizing the ballooning immigration crisis and the financial burden placed on hardworking American families.
Trump Orders Crackdown After Tragic Shooting
Bessent’s announcement comes days after national outrage over the death of Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, a West Virginia National Guard member killed in a shooting involving an Afghan migrant brought to the United States under Biden’s Operation Allies Welcome.
President Trump directly linked the tragedy to America’s broken immigration system and vowed to accelerate the largest deportation operation in U.S. history.
The alleged shooter, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, applied for asylum in late 2024 and was approved earlier this year after a background check — a decision now under scrutiny.
Trump: Migrant Benefits Are Gutting U.S. Taxpayers
In his Thanksgiving message, Trump warned that America’s benefits system is being abused:
“A migrant earning $30,000 with a green card will get roughly $50,000 in yearly benefits for their family.”
He argued that this system rewards dependency, overwhelms social services, and forces patriotic Americans to foot the bill.
Trump described today’s immigration crisis as a dangerous, post–World War II shift that has fueled crime, welfare abuse, and nationwide instability.
Treasury Takes Action: Benefits Cut for Illegal Aliens
On Friday, Bessent confirmed that the Treasury will enforce Trump’s order by blocking illegal aliens from accessing refundable tax credits and federal benefits, including:
- Earned Income Tax Credit
- Additional Child Tax Credit
- American Opportunity Tax Credit
- Saver’s Match Credit
These credits were quietly reclassified as federal public benefits earlier this year, allowing the Trump administration to shut off access for individuals without legal status.
Bessent posted:
“If you’re here illegally, there’s no place for you in our financial system.”
National Security Risks Highlighted by Treasury
The Treasury Department issued a separate warning declaring that illegal aliens pose significant threats to national security and public safety, citing:
- Cross-border money transfers
- Remittances tied to illicit activity
- Suspicious financial patterns involving migrants without legal status
FinCEN urged U.S. money services businesses to increase monitoring of transactions linked to illegal aliens — part of what officials say is a growing trend of financial exploitation within migrant networks.
Trump’s Warning: ‘Reverse Migration’ Is the Only Solution
Trump’s message went even further, offering a blunt assessment of America’s crisis:
“The official United States Foreign population stands at 53 million… most of which are on welfare, from failed nations, or from prisons, mental institutions, gangs, or drug cartels.”
He said that “patriotic American citizens” have tolerated this burden for too long and declared:
“Only REVERSE MIGRATION can fully cure this situation.”
Democrats Lash Out as Panic Grows
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) accused Trump of “terrifying immigrant families” and criticized Republicans for supporting the Laken Reilly Act, which targets criminal migrants.
Khanna urged Democrats not to “cave,” even as Americans nationwide express overwhelming concern about illegal immigration, border crime, and taxpayer abuse.
What Happens Next
The Treasury Department is preparing the final regulatory language clarifying exactly which benefits will be cut off.
One thing remains clear: President Trump is moving swiftly to shut down financial incentives that draw illegal aliens to the United States — and millions of conservative Americans strongly support the effort.