Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom is facing new federal scrutiny as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launches an investigation into whether the state unlawfully directed taxpayer-funded benefits to illegal immigrants.
The probe, led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) office in Los Angeles, centers on California’s Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI)—a fully state-funded initiative that provides monthly benefits to non-citizens who are ineligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) because of their immigration status.
According to a Title 8 subpoena issued by HSI Los Angeles, federal authorities are requesting records from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS), which oversees the disputed program. Investigators are seeking documentation dating back to January 2021, including applicants’ names, birthdates, immigration status, and evidence of ineligibility for federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
“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 in a statement Monday. “The Trump Administration is working together to identify abuse and exploitation of public benefits and make sure those in this country illegally are not receiving federal benefits or other financial incentives to stay illegally. If you are an illegal immigrant, you should leave now. The gravy train is over.”
While the current subpoena is limited to Los Angeles County, Noem signaled the investigation could expand. “This is just the beginning,” she stated. The probe arises from mounting concerns within the Trump administration that states like California may be violating federal law—specifically Title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA)—by indirectly providing federal-style benefits to individuals who are ineligible due to their immigration status.
On April 15, President Trump signed the Memorandum on Preventing Illegal Aliens from Obtaining Social Security Act Benefits, instructing DHS and other federal agencies to investigate and enforce compliance with federal law. The action follows revelations that over 2 million ineligible immigrants were issued Social Security Numbers during fiscal year 2024—a figure the administration has described as “staggering.”
CAPI was established following the 1996 Welfare Reform Act, which prohibited most non-citizens from receiving federal SSI benefits. While California Democrats have promoted the program as a state-funded safety net for elderly, blind, or disabled immigrants, critics argue that it has been misused to exploit public resources and attract illegal immigration.