Latest news with #CashAssistanceProgramforImmigrants
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Details of father's arrest by ICE agents at Ventura County gas station revealed
The Brief Advocacy group 805 UndocuFund claims ICE agents detained a man at an Oxnard gas station, leaving his two children behind. It reportedly occurred on May 4, with a gas station attendant witnessing the arrest and sharing his account with the advocacy group. The incident has sparked concern among immigrant rights advocates, who are calling for accountability and transparency from federal authorities. LOS ANGELES - The Department of Homeland Security is releasing more details of a father's arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Ventura County and is refuting claims that two children were left behind after the arrest. What we know The incident happened on May 4 around 9:30 a.m. at the Sinclair gas station located at the intersection of Ventura Road and Wooley Boulevard in Oxnard, as reported by 805 UndocuFund, a coalition of nonprofit organizations supporting immigrants in California's Central Coast. A gas station attendant, Juan Conches, shared what he witnessed with the group in a video posted to their Instagram page. According to Conches, a man arrived at the gas station for fuel, and while he was pumping gas, "at least six" vehicles showed up and quickly surrounded him. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Father detained by ICE agents at Ventura County gas station "They arrested someone," Conches said. "They left the children inside the truck." The coalition identified the children as a minor and an older sibling. "They told me they took him. I then asked if I could move the truck to free up the pump. That's it. I moved the truck with the kids inside and parked it in the front. They let me know they called their sister to pick them up," Conches said in the video. The other side DHS shared a screenshot of the report in Newsweek, and took to social media to refute the claims. "This is FALSE," the agency wrote on X. "ICE agents arrested criminal illegal alien Albino Teodores Mandujano. His 19-year-old son took possession of his vehicle. ICE officers even offered to move the vehicle to a better location." SUGGESTED: Homeland Security investigating California's Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants DHS said agents also allowed Mandujano a phone call to make sure his truck and son "arrived safely back at his home." According to DHS, Mandujano's criminal history includes a conviction for fighting in a public place and driving under the influence. "This individual entered our country illegal at least THREE times," DHS wrote. The agency went on to encourage parents in the country illegally to use the CBP Home app, which allows people to self-deport, with the potential to return via legal means. Local perspective ICE agents began targeting major sanctuary cities immediately after President Donald Trump's inauguration, including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta. Since then, international students, alleged gang members, even American citizens in some cases, and visa holders have been stopped at airports, detained for days, or face deportation for minor infractions. SUGGESTED: Trump administration offers to pay migrants $1,000 to leave US Several such cases have occurred across Southern California. Last month, Andry Hernandez Romero, a gay Venezuelan makeup artist, was deported to El Salvador and is detained in a dangerous prison, raising concerns about human rights violations. Activists say the deportation is a severe violation of human rights, calling it a "death sentence" due to the prison's harsh conditions and lack of protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. A week before that, a raid was conducted outside a Home Depot in Pomona. Between 15 and 20 day laborers were detained. U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston emphasized that such actions violate the Fourth Amendment, which protects immigrant workers, including day laborers and farmworkers. SUGGESTED: Traffic charges dropped against Georgia college student now facing deportation In another case, an Orange County couple with no criminal history who had lived in the U.S. for 35 years were deported to Colombia in March. The backstory During his first week in office, Trump signed 10 executive orders on immigration and issued a slew of edicts to carry out promises of mass deportations and border security. Trump expanded arrest priorities to anyone in the country illegally, not just people with criminal convictions, public safety or national security threats and migrants stopped at the border. SUGGESTED: Advocates demand release of detained Pomona day laborer Jesus Domingo Ros The administration also ended a policy to avoid arrests at "sensitive locations," including schools, hospitals and places of worship. It said it may deport people who entered the country legally on parole, a presidential authority that former President Joe Biden used more than any president. It also threatened to punish "sanctuary" jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The Source Information for this story is from the social media of the Department of Homeland Security and previous FOX 11 reports.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Trump officials investigate California aid for immigrants without legal status
The Trump administration announced on Monday that it was investigating a California program that has provided cash assistance to some immigrants in the country without legal permission who are older or have disabilities and are not eligible for federal aid. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in Los Angeles issued a subpoena to the county requesting records that include the identities of people who applied for the state's Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants, the Department of Homeland Security said. For decades, the program has provided subsistence-level benefits to impoverished residents 65 or older, as well as those who are blind or have a disability. It serves an average of 16,556 people each month across California. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Co-Founder of Google Brain, Andrew Ng, Recommends: "These 5 Books Will Turn Your Life Around" Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo State officials say the California program is paid entirely by state funds. It began in 1998 after the federal government, two years earlier, tightened rules under which noncitizens could receive Supplemental Security Income benefits. The California recipients typically have applied for a pathway to remain in the country but are ineligible to receive federal benefits because of their immigration status. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) The announcement is the latest indication that President Donald Trump intends to use his federal powers to confront Democratic-led states that offer their own benefits to immigrants who lack legal status. It is also believed to be one of the first requests from the Trump administration for state personal data on immigrants outside the criminal justice system. Live Events You Might Also Like: US Supreme Court faces dual controversies in birthright citizenship case "Radical left politicians in California prioritize illegal aliens over our own citizens," Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement. "If you are an illegal immigrant, you should leave now," she added. "The gravy train is over. While this subpoena focuses only on Los Angeles County, it is just the beginning." Homeland Security said Monday that its investigation was seeking to determine if immigrants living in the country without legal status had received federal SSI funds in the last four years. Such benefits are administered by the Social Security Administration but separate from Social Security payments that are based on one's work history. California's Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants was created to help vulnerable residents who don't qualify for SSI because of their immigration status. You Might Also Like: Trump seeks to bring first group of white South Africans to US next week amid controversy: 10 points Holly J. Mitchell, a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, said in an email that the state program, known as CAPI, served as a crucial safety net for residents in need in California. "LA County is focused on continuing to provide social services that make all of our communities better off, regardless of the latest efforts by the federal administration to scare and target some of our most vulnerable residents," she added. Tanya Broder, senior counsel with the National Immigration Law Center, said the program was meant to help immigrants living in the country lawfully who would have received federal benefits before the 1996 change in the law. "The 1996 welfare law authorized states to provide benefits of any kind to their own residents, regardless of their immigration status, with their own money," Broder said. "So they're authorized by federal law. There's nothing unlawful about it." The state budget allocated $239.6 million for the program in the fiscal year that ends June 30, all from California's general fund, according to the state's Department of Finance. LA County's budget for 2024-25 says $115 million is being spent on the state-backed program there; that is up 29% since 2022 because more people are participating in the program. Los Angeles County, the nation's largest, is home to 9.8 million people, including an estimated 3.5 million immigrants, according to a University of Southern California report. As of 2021, an estimated 809,500 residents of the county were immigrants without legal status.
New York Post
12-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Trump admin probes LA welfare program over whether it's paying welfare to illegal immigrants
The Trump administration has launched an investigation into a Los Angeles County welfare program that pays immigrants up to $18,000 per year over allegations it is 'providing federal benefits to illegal aliens.' The probe focuses on LA's Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) program, which the Golden State created to pay seniors or disabled who are barred from collecting Social Security based on their immigration status, the Department of Homeland Security announced Monday. DHS has demanded the records of all people enrolled in the program in LA County. It wasn't immediately clear how many people participate in LA's CAPI program, but statewide, there are about 16,500 people enrolled. Advertisement California says the program, which was launched in 1998, is funded entirely by state money — and that it is 'not generally available' to undocumented people. Homeland Security agents make arrests in Los Angeles. @HSILosAngeles/X CAPI is designed to help support elderly, blind or disabled immigrants who have legal status to remain in the US. It pays about $1,100 per month for most elderly or disabled people who qualify, or $1,900 per month for couples. Payments for nursing home care can reach nearly $1,500 a month. Advertisement DHS Secretary Kristi Noem slammed 'radical leftist politicians in California for prioritizing 'illegal aliens over our own citizens' through the program, in a statement Monday. 'If you are an illegal immigrant, you should leave now. The gravy train is over. While this subpoena focuses only on Los Angeles County – it is just the beginning,' she said. 'Radical left politicians in California prioritize illegal aliens over our own citizens, including by giving illegal aliens access to cash benefits,' said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. REUTERS Advertisement As part of the probe, the Department of Homeland Security is demanding that the State of California hand over 'all records from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services – who administers the state program – to determine if ineligible illegal aliens received' federally-funded Social Security benefits going back to the start of the Biden administration in January 2021, the agency said. That includes all applicants' names, dates of birth, copies of their applications, immigration status, proof of ineligibility from federal Social Security and affidavits supporting each application, according to DHS. More than 2 million illegal immigrants received Social Security Numbers in fiscal year 2024, which ran from October 2023 to September 2024, according to DHS. President Trump signed an executive order last month directing cabinet members 'to ensure ineligible illegal aliens do not receive funds from Social Security programs and prioritize civil or criminal enforcement against states or localities for potential violations' of federal law.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Federal subpoena targets California's Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants
Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations office in Los Angeles has issued a federal subpoena to California's Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants. The agency is requesting records as part of an inquiry into whether immigrants in the country illegally received federal benefits. The Title 8 subpoena, served to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services, which administers the state-funded program, seeks documentation for all applicants dating back to January 2021. CAPI provides cash aid to immigrants ineligible for federal Supplemental Security Income due to their immigration status. Feds launch task force to investigate fraud and corruption in Southern California homeless funds HSI Los Angeles is subpoenaing the following records: Applicant's name and date of birth Copies of applications Immigration status Proof of ineligibility for SSI from the Social Security Administration Affidavits in support of the application According to the program's website, 'CAPI is a 100% state-funded program designed to provide monthly cash benefits to aged, blind, and disabled non-citizens who are ineligible for Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment solely due to their immigration status. The Welfare Reform Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-193) eliminated SSI/SSP eligibility for most non-citizens. As a result, most immigrants who were not receiving SSI/SSP in August 1996 are no longer eligible for SSI/SSP. The amount of CAPI benefits is equivalent to the amount of SSI/SSP benefits.' The investigation comes after President Donald Trump signed a memorandum on April 15 aimed at preventing undocumented immigrants from receiving Social Security benefits. According to the department, the directive orders federal agencies to coordinate efforts to ensure only eligible recipients receive aid and to consider civil or criminal enforcement actions against states or localities found to be in violation of federal law. KTLA reached out to Gov. Gavin Newsom's office but didn't receive a response in time for publication. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Epoch Times
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
DHS Investigates Los Angeles for Allegedly Providing Federal Benefits to Illegal Immigrants
The Department of Homeland Security has Homeland Security Investigations served a Title 8 subpoena to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services, which administers California's Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants. While the cash assistance program is a state-funded initiative, the federal subpoena seeks records from January 2021 to the present to determine whether any recipients received Supplemental Security Income benefits but who were ineligible, based on their immigration status. The requested documents include applications, immigration status records, proof of Supplemental Security Income ineligibility, and supporting affidavits, DHS said in an announcement. 'Radical left politicians in California prioritize illegal aliens over our own citizens, including by giving illegal aliens access to cash benefits,' said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. 'If you are an illegal immigrant, you should leave now. The gravy train is over. While this subpoena focuses only on Los Angeles County—it is just the beginning.' Related Stories 4/26/2025 4/18/2025 The move comes less than a month after President Donald Trump signed a Trump's memorandum directs federal agencies to investigate fraud and prioritize enforcement in areas with high numbers of illegal immigrants. It also calls for expanding fraud prosecution programs through special assistant U.S. attorneys, particularly targeting identity theft and improper benefit payments. According to DHS, more than 2 million illegal immigrants were issued Social Security numbers in fiscal year 2024 under prior policies. The department said it is now working with other agencies to prevent any further disbursement of benefits to ineligible recipients. The Social Security Administration previously The Social Security Administration said it is reviewing questionable earnings reports and considering whether to resume civil monetary penalties in cases of fraud. The agency also confirmed that it recently reclassified more than 6,300 Social Security numbers as ineligible after identifying recipients who had been paroled into the U.S. despite criminal records or national security concerns. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services, and the California Department of Social Services did not respond to a request for comment from The Epoch Times before publication. Naveen Athrappully contributed to this report.
