Noncitizen and Illegal Alien Access to Benefits and Assistance

Federal law bars aliens residing without authorisation in the United States from most federal benefits; however, there is a widely held perception that many unauthorised aliens obtain such benefits. The degree to which unauthorised resident aliens should be accorded certain rights and privileges as a result of their residence in the United States, along with the duties owed by such aliens given their presence, remains the subject of intense debate in Congress. This book focuses on the policy and legislative debate surrounding unauthorised aliens' access to federal benefits.