An initiative set forth by the administration of former President Bill Clinton was finally shot down this week, and it should save American taxpayers a pretty penny.
According to JustTheNews, U.S. taxpayers are no longer on the hook for paying for the education of noncitizens who are currently in the country illegally. The program was ended by President Donald Trump's Department of Education this week.
Trump's DOE wrote in a statement this week that "it will end taxpayer subsidization of illegal aliens in career, technical, and adult education programs."
The new rule will also prohibit illegal aliens from accessing government benefits like Pell Grants and student loans.
The Department of Education updated a rule this week that allowed somewhat of a loophole for illega aliens to access government benefits that would normally only be given to U.S. citizens.
The outlet noted:
A news release said that this change takes place due to an interpretative rule issued Thursday in which “the Department rescinded a Dear Colleague letter from the Clinton Administration that enabled non-qualified illegal aliens to access federal public benefits in contravention of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA)."
The release from the Education Department added, "Title IV of PRWORA 'generally limits eligibility for ‘federal public benefits’ to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and certain categories of ‘qualified aliens.'"
The federal benefits covered under that include, "any retirement, welfare, health, disability, public or assisted housing, postsecondary education, food assistance, unemployment benefits, or any similar benefits for which payments or assistance are provided to an individual, household, or family eligibility unit."
The release explained how illegal aliens were able to skirt the rules thanks to the Clinton administration.
In 1997, "the Clinton Administration issued a Dear Colleague Letter that erroneously exempted career, technical, and adult education programs from being subject to PRWORA," the release explained.
"In doing so, the Department’s interpretation mischaracterized the law by creating artificial distinctions between federal benefit programs based upon the method of assistance,” the release added. "Congress made no such distinction in PRWORA."
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon released a statement making it crystal clear where she stands on the issue.
"Postsecondary education programs funded by the federal government should benefit American citizens, not illegal aliens," the DOE release added.
It added, "Under President Trump's leadership, hardworking American taxpayers will no longer foot the bill for illegal aliens to participate in our career, technical, or adult education programs or activities."
