The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has opened an investigation into California’s Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) over concerns that it may have provided federal benefits to undocumented immigrants. At the center of the probe is a federal subpoena issued to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services, which oversees CAPI. The subpoena demands records from January 2021 onward, including applications, immigration status, and documentation proving individuals’ ineligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Authorities aim to determine whether any ineligible immigrants improperly received financial support.
CAPI was created to serve aged, blind, and disabled immigrants who do not qualify for federal SSI due to their immigration status. According to legal experts like UC Davis Professor Kevin R. Johnson, the program has strict eligibility criteria, and only lawful immigrants should receive benefits. However, DHS is scrutinizing the program as part of a broader effort to crack down on public assistance abuse. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stated that the Trump administration is committed to stopping what she called the misuse of taxpayer money and warned that this is only the beginning of a nationwide review.
The investigation comes in the wake of President Trump’s April 2025 memorandum titled the Memorandum on Preventing Illegal Aliens from Obtaining Social Security Act Benefits. The order directs DHS, along with other federal agencies, to prevent unauthorized immigrants from receiving any federal aid, including Social Security benefits. The directive also authorizes civil and criminal enforcement against any state or local government suspected of violating federal welfare restrictions under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA).
California officials, including those from Governor Gavin Newsom’s office, pushed back against the allegations. They asserted that CAPI is only available to individuals with lawful immigration status, legal protections, or pending applications for such status—including victims of crime and human trafficking. Professor Johnson echoed this defense, noting that there’s currently no clear evidence the program has been abused. However, he acknowledged the federal government may be acting on credible leads suggesting some ineligible individuals received benefits improperly.
DHS claims that over 2 million undocumented immigrants received Social Security Numbers in fiscal year 2024, highlighting what it views as a breakdown in federal benefit oversight. While critics argue the investigation may have political motivations, the outcome could influence how similar state-run programs are regulated nationwide. For now, the focus remains on California’s compliance with federal law and whether its program operated within the boundaries set by Congress.
