The Department of Homeland Security has issued subpoenas to California officials over allegations that federal funds are being improperly directed to illegal immigrants through the state’s Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI).
The subpoenas, filed by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations office in Los Angeles, request records dating back to 2021, including applicants’ names, birth dates, immigration status, and other program documentation.
California’s CAPI program provides monthly financial aid to elderly, blind, and disabled non-citizens who are not eligible for federal Supplemental Security Income. But the White House contends the program has been extended to illegal immigrants who are barred from accessing federal benefits.
The subpoenas come after a report by the Economic Policy Innovation Center (EPIC) alleged California is using federal reimbursements to support state programs that benefit illegal immigrants. EPIC claims nearly $4 billion in taxpayer funds are being funneled through Medicaid provider taxes to cover healthcare and other services, calling it a “money laundering scheme.” The report projects California will receive more than $19 billion in federal funds from April 2023 through December 2026 without providing matching state contributions.
