President Donald Trump promised an immigration bill that would bar immigrants from receiving welfare benefits, however, what he apparently didn’t know is that the law already exists.
During a rally in Iowa, Trump said his administration would get to working on a law that would prohibit immigrants from receiving welfare for at least five years after they enter the country. “I believe the time has come for new immigration rules which say those seeking admission into our country must be able to support themselves financially and should not use welfare for a period of at least five years,” he said.
The only problem with that is that very law, called the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, was passed under President Bill Clinton’s administration in 1996. The law states that immigrants are “not eligible for any federal means-tested public benefit” for five years beginning when they come into the country.
According to NBC, the White House did not respond to a request for more information about the legislation, which Trump promised would be coming “very shortly.”
