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Monday, Jan. 31, 2022

Do millions of undocumented immigrants get public benefits and vote illegally in the US?

Marlo Lee, Lead Stories
no

There are very few undocumented immigrants voting illegally: "maybe one every few years," one expert said. In recent years, some cities have begun allowing undocumented immigrants to vote in local elections.

Undocumented immigrants are prohibited from receiving almost all types of public benefits, including Medicaid, unemployment, and food stamps in most cases. However, they can receive emergency Medicaid in narrow cases as well as nutritional supplements for women, infants, and children through the WIC program.

Despite their undocumented status, undocumented immigrants still pay taxes, such as payroll taxes, income taxes, sales taxes, and property taxes.

The number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. is estimated at around 11 million.

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