Justice Department Requires States to Broaden Reporting of Undocumented Immigrants

<p>The US Department of Justice (DoJ) has mandated that states expand their reporting of undocumented immigrants to the federal government, as stated in a legal opinion released on September 2, 2026. This new directive reverses a policy that has been in effect for nearly 30 years.</p><p>According to the opinion issued by the department’s Office of Legal Counsel, any state receiving federal funds through support programs for low-income Americans, such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), is now required to report undocumented immigrants across all state government agencies, rather than solely through the specific welfare office managing the program.</p>