Illegals skate on "public charge" welfare rule in Gang of Eight bill

This does not mean the bill would put out a welcome mat for undocumented immigrants to go on welfare. Immigrants granted provisional legal status are ineligible for public benefits under this legislation, and public charge evaluations do apply later on their path to legal permanent status.

Nevertheless, with the potential cost of legalizing 11 million undocumented immigrants a concern among opponents of the immigration reform legislation, the elimination of the public charge statute at the beginning of the process is a red flag to some critics.

“America has a generous social safety net that cannot possibly support everyone in the world who might want or need to rely on it. Once someone enters the country — legally or illegally — there are myriad ways they can end up becoming dependent upon public assistance (even if they’re not eligible for it),” a Senate Budget Committee aide warned in an email to The Daily Caller. “Therefore, federal law is supposed to prevent the admission of anyone who is likely to end up in such a situation.”

This aide continued: “By removing this pre-screening standard for illegal immigrants, the Gang’s proposal will expose taxpayers to extraordinary risks. Amnestied illegal immigrants will have immediate access to state and local benefits and access to federal benefits most likely through their family members (with no requirement to earn a living necessary to support their families without federal help). Illegal immigrants’ personal access to federal benefits is delayed only temporarily, and for some illegal immigrants (of any age) citizenship will be granted in as little as five years. Those on this expedited path will also be able to legally bring relatives that could draw a variety of public benefits. Low-skill chain migration costs could be astronomical — everything from public education benefits to subsidized health care.”