US President Donald Trump is set to sign an order ensuring that U.S. taxpayer money is not used to support undocumented immigrants or promote illegal immigration. The order requires federal agencies to identify programs that provide financial aid to undocumented migrants. It also prevents cities and states from using federal funds for programs that assist them. Additionally, the order calls for better ways to check if people are eligible for benefits.

The majority of government programs, including federal food assistance payments and welfare benefits, are already generally ineligible to undocumented people. The order emphasises Trump's commitment to stopping illegal immigration and strengthening security at the US southern border, which has been a key issue for him. During his campaign, Trump promised to carry out the largest deportation in US history, tapping into voter concerns about the increasing number of migrants crossing the border, which has put pressure on communities and raised fears about crime. 

Billionaire Elon Musk, a representative for Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, which aims to reduce government spending and the size of the federal workforce, has criticised the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for paying New York City to house migrants, claiming that this goes against the president's immigration policies. Three additional staff members and the chief financial officer of FEMA were fired for their roles in the payments to New York City for migrant accommodations. Many local governments and nonprofits get money back from the federal government to help feed and house migrants. Trump has said he wants to get rid of FEMA and, during his 2024 presidential campaign, made false claims that the agency used disaster relief funds to house undocumented migrants. At the southern border, Trump has proclaimed a state of national emergency and ordered the Pentagon to send more troops to deal with the crisis. 

Additionally, the administration has increased the number of undocumented migrants it deports and made an effort to stop children of illegal immigrants from automatically obtaining citizenship. The courts have put a stop to that activity while they handle legal challenges. The president has threatened to impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada to push them to strengthen border security. This pressure led to small agreements from both countries, convincing him to postpone the import taxes on their goods.