$280,000 Financial Boost: Migrants on Terror Watchlist Received Medicaid: A recent report has brought attention to how some foreign nationals, who were allowed into the United States under the Biden administration, received government benefits—even though they had criminal or terrorist backgrounds. This situation has raised serious concerns about border security, background checks, and the use of taxpayer money.
What Happened Under the Biden Administration?
Since 2023, the U.S. Border Patrol allowed many people to enter the country under a system called “parole.” These individuals did not go through the usual legal immigration process. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), about 6,300 of these people were later found to be on the FBI’s Terrorist Watchlist or had criminal records.
The government has now canceled their parole status. This means they are no longer allowed to legally stay in the country under that program. However, in the meantime, many of them were able to get access to official U.S. identification documents like Social Security numbers and work permits.
How Were They Able to Get U.S. Benefits?
Even without permanent legal status, once these individuals got a Social Security number, they became eligible to apply for several government programs. These include health insurance, unemployment benefits, tax refunds, food stamps, and even student loans.
Among the 6,300 individuals who had criminal or terrorist records, the report highlights the following:
Benefits Received by Paroled Foreign Nationals
Medicaid Payments
About 905 people received health benefits through Medicaid. This includes four individuals who were actually on the FBI’s terrorist watchlist. The total cost paid out for these benefits was around $276,000.
Unemployment Benefits
Around 41 people received Unemployment Insurance benefits, which totaled $42,000.
Federal Student Loans
A total of 22 individuals managed to get student loans worth around $280,000 to study in the U.S.
Tax Refunds
In 2024 alone, 409 people received net tax refunds totaling $751,000.
Food Stamps (SNAP)
Several individuals also received food assistance through the SNAP program. The exact number of recipients is still being confirmed.
What Is the Government Doing Now?
Now that these issues have come to light, the U.S. government has ended the parole status of these 6,300 individuals. This step is aimed at correcting the mistake and improving the system going forward. However, the fact that people with such serious backgrounds could get access to government benefits has raised many questions about the screening process and security at the border.
This report shows that there were gaps in how people were checked before being allowed into the U.S. Allowing individuals with serious criminal or terrorist backgrounds to enter the country and access public benefits has not only cost taxpayers money but also raised national security concerns. The government is now trying to fix these issues, but this incident has already sparked debate about how the immigration and border control systems are being handled.
FAQ
What is U.S. parole in immigration?
Parole is a temporary entry granted by the U.S. government to foreign nationals for urgent reasons, without giving them full legal status like permanent residency.
How did individuals with criminal records enter the U.S.?
Due to fast processing and limited background checks, some individuals with criminal or terror-linked records were mistakenly allowed entry under the parole system.
What kind of U.S. benefits did these parolees receive?
They accessed Medicaid, unemployment insurance, tax refunds, federal student loans, and SNAP food benefits, using their Social Security numbers.
Is the U.S. government taking any action now?
Yes, the parole status of all 6,300 individuals with serious records has been terminated, and investigations are ongoing.
How much did these benefits cost U.S. taxpayers?
Reported costs include $751K in tax refunds, $280K in student loans, $276K in Medicaid payments, and more from other programs.
