Justice Department Clarifies States' Duty to Report Known Illegal Aliens Under Welfare-Reform Law

The Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel has issued a legal opinion clarifying that states participating in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs must report individuals known to be not lawfully present in the United States to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This clarification applies to all state agencies, not just those administering benefits, and withdraws a narrower Clinton-era interpretation.