Immigrants and Welfare: Policy Constructions of Deservingness

ABSTRACT The passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996, H.R. 3734, ended eligibility for all immigrants to federal means tested entitlements including federal cash assistance, food stamps, and Medicaid. Underprivileged elderly immigrants were specifically targeted. This article examines how older immigrants are constructed as “undeserving” of federal means-tested entitlements such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI). In particular, it focuses on the frames used in various congressional policy hearings leading up to the passage of the welfare reform law and examines how older immigrants become unworthy of receiving SSI. The sample consisted of the 1994–1996 U.S. Congressional hearing transcripts on SSI and immigrants. Through a content analysis of these transcripts, themes and frames were identified. The findings demonstrate that immigrants were constructed as fraudulent and immigrating to the U.S. to receive public assistance. Their families were portrayed as irresponsible and negligent and these elders were portrayed as “noncontributing” members of society whose number were increasing and becoming a burden to U.S. tax payers. These constructions of “undeservingness” evolved to make both young and old immigrants ineligible from federal safety nets such as SSI. This study has implications for how immigrants are construed in policy circles in times of cutbacks. The finding of this study demonstrates that the notions of deservingness are constructed through dialogue and discussion that happens in policy hearings.