Mar 4, 2025; Washington, DC, USA; U.S. President Donald Trump holds a copy of an executive order honoring Jocelyn Nungaray, a a 12-year-old girl who was killed by illegal immigrants, as he addresses a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump was expected to address Congress on his early achievements of his presidency and his upcoming legislative agenda. Mandatory Credit: Win McNamee-Pool via Imagn Images
Los Angeles, California – The Trump administration has launched a sweeping federal investigation into California’s Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI), intensifying its crackdown on public benefits for undocumented immigrants. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Monday that the probe began with a subpoena issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles field office.
The subpoena targets records from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services, which administers CAPI, a state-funded program offering monthly cash assistance to low-income, aged, blind, or disabled non-citizens who are ineligible for federal Social Security benefits due to immigration status.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem issued a sharp rebuke of California’s policies, stating, “Radical left politicians in California prioritize illegal aliens over our own citizens, including by giving illegal aliens access to cash benefits.” Noem added that the investigation is aimed at stopping “abuse and exploitation of public benefits” and warned, “The gravy train is over.”
The subpoena seeks extensive information from the county, including applicant names, immigration status, proof of Social Security ineligibility, and supporting affidavits. DHS claims the goal is to determine whether any undocumented immigrants improperly received federal Supplemental Security Income over the last four years.
Kevin R. Johnson, a law professor and immigration expert at UC Davis, described the subpoena’s scope as “breathtakingly broad” and potentially chilling. “This is like trying to pick a fight,” Johnson said. “It’s classic Trump administration handiwork. The damage is done just by seeking the materials.”
According to the Public Policy Institute of California, around 15,000 legal residents receive CAPI benefits, while the broader SSI/SSP programs serve over a million Californians, mostly seniors. CAPI specifically serves legal immigrants who meet strict criteria, including low-income status and ineligibility for federal benefits due to their immigration classification under the 1996 Welfare Reform Act.
Johnson noted that the subpoena could trigger legal challenges from Los Angeles County and privacy advocates, and predicted a lengthy legal battle. He expressed concern that the action was less about enforcement and more about sending a message. “It’s part of an entire mosaic of fear that’s being created in immigrant communities,” he said.
The investigation follows President Trump’s April 15 memorandum directing federal agencies to block unauthorized immigrants from accessing Social Security benefits and expanding fraud prosecution efforts across multiple states.
While DHS claims more than 2 million “ineligible” immigrants were issued Social Security numbers in fiscal year 2024, immigration law experts stress that legal residents eligible for CAPI are not unlawfully receiving federal funds. Critics argue the probe is a political move aimed at intimidating immigrant communities.
