Marco Rubio Blasts Federal Payouts: Immigrants Get More Than Decades-Long Workers

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) has voiced strong criticism over the disparity in federal payouts between recent immigrants and Social Security recipients. On the Senate floor, Rubio underscored the stark contrast between the benefits received by Cuban refugees who have contributed to Social Security for decades and recent immigrants, including refugees, who receive substantial financial support without having paid into the system.

Rubio highlighted his frustration with the situation, noting that long-time Cuban residents in South Florida, who have worked their entire lives, typically receive $800 to $1,000 monthly from Social Security. In contrast, recent arrivals receive up to $1,500 in benefits. He also pointed out instances where these new arrivals, classified as refugees, frequently return to their home countries, questioning their refugee status.

"That 'refugee,' a year later, is traveling back to Cuba 15 times. So, you're a refugee fleeing oppression from a place that you now go back and visit 15 times the following year," Rubio remarked.

Rubio's comments reflect his concern over the perceived inequity in resource allocation, arguing that it makes no sense for long-time contributors to the Social Security system to receive less support than able-bodied newcomers who immediately qualify for substantial benefits.

Supporting Rubio's claims, data from the 2020 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) shows that immigrant households are more likely to receive benefits from means-tested government programs than U.S.-born households. In 2022, 54 percent of immigrant-headed households used at least one major welfare program, compared to 39 percent of U.S.-born households. This rate rises to 59 percent for non-citizen households.

The analysis also revealed that immigrant households show particularly high usage of food programs, Medicaid, and the Earned Income Tax Credit. Even when excluding certain programs, 46 percent of immigrant households and 33 percent of U.S.-born households utilized at least one major welfare program. The data indicates that most immigrant households are nuclear families, countering the notion that the presence of extended family members leads to higher welfare use.