Housing and Urban Services Secretary Scott Turner said a majority of illegal alien families in the United States rely on taxpayer-funded welfare programs, costing tens of billions of dollars each year and placing significant strain on housing, healthcare, education, and public safety systems.
Turner said roughly 59 percent of illegal alien families use at least one welfare program, at an estimated annual cost of $42 billion.
He argued those funds should instead be focused on helping American citizens achieve independence rather than long-term reliance on government assistance.
“That for you, 59% of illegal alien families use one or more welfare program in our country, costing about $42 billion a year,” Turner said.
“So if you think about almost 60% of illegal alien families using our welfare system, one or more of them costing about $42 billion a year, which should be prioritized to help the American people not to remain on subsidies, if you will, but to get a hand up and then to get off of government subsidies to live a life of self sustainability.”
HUD @SecretaryTurner: "59% of illegal alien families use one or more welfare programs in our country, costing about $42 billion a year." pic.twitter.com/x8XWwlOIJl
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) December 18, 2025