FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do undocumented immigrants qualify for federal healthcare benefits?
No. Undocumented immigrants do not have access to federally funded healthcare coverage, including Medicaid, Medicare, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
They are also unable to purchase health insurance coverage from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace.
Are there any exceptions where undocumented immigrants could still get healthcare benefits?
Federal law mandates that hospitals provide emergency care to everyone, regardless of their immigration status.
Low-income noncitizens who don’t qualify for Medicare because of their immigration status can receive emergency treatment under the 1986 Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act. The federal Emergency Medicaid program then reimburses hospitals for emergency medical services, limited only to those needed to stabilize an individual who is at risk of permanent injury or death. Noncitizens do not receive any direct benefits from Emergency Medicaid, only hospitals.
However, due to new restrictions in President Trump’s OBBBA, states will receive less federal funding for these emergency services beginning October 1, 2026.
New Medicaid restrictions for lawful immigrants
Beginning October 1, 2026, OBBBA will restrict Medicaid eligibility to green card holders, certain Cuban-Haitian entrants, and people living in the United States under a Compact of Free Association, known as COFA citizens.
Previously qualified noncitizens will also lose access to Medicaid coverage under OBBBA, including but not limited to people granted asylum or refugee status, humanitarian parolees, and some survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking who have been granted immigration status.
Do undocumented immigrants qualify for SNAP benefits?
No, undocumented immigrants are not eligible to receive federal benefits under Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the food stamps program.
However, SNAP benefits are provided to households rather than individuals. If, for example, the head of a household is undocumented, they may still apply for SNAP benefits for their U.S. citizen children. But benefits are calculated based on the number of eligible people in the household, so the assistance would only cover the U.S. citizen children—not the entire household.
Can other immigrants receive SNAP benefits?
Yes, but the majority must wait years before they can qualify. After obtaining a green card, eligible immigrants are subject to a five-year waiting period before they may apply for SNAP assistance, with limited exceptions.
Since the passage of OBBBA, only green card holders, Cuban-Haitian entrants, and COFA citizens can apply for SNAP benefits. Under the Act’s new restrictions, certain categories of noncitizens—asylees, refugees, parolees, and trafficking survivors—are no longer allowed to apply.
Many immigrants avoid applying for benefits even when they are eligible. The “public charge” rule of the first Trump administration saw families in mixed-status households unenrolling from public benefits for which they were entitled. Many feared it would impact their chances of obtaining a green card or visa in the future.
The Trump administration has since revived the public charge rule. If history repeats itself, we will see more people in mixed-status households go without the food assistance they need due to this climate of fear.
Do undocumented immigrants receive Social Security benefits?
No. Like most federal programs, Social Security is limited to U.S. citizens and specific groups of immigrants with lawful status.
While undocumented immigrants paid $26.2 billion into the Social Security Trust Fund in 2023—just one part of the estimated $89.8 billion they paid that year in combined federal, state, and local taxes—most undocumented immigrants will never collect these benefits.
Immigrants Pay into Healthcare Benefits
$651.9B
Immigrant tax contributions
$215.8B
Immigrant contributions to Social Security
$58.7B
How Can Pappas Legal PLLC help you in your immigration matter?
Our founder, Attorney George D. Pappas, has extensive experience in over 20 years of legal practice in Immigration Law. George Pappas was also a former Federal Immigration Judge in Boston! That experience is critical to successfully helping you in your immigration application or case.
Where can I find Pappas Legal PLLC?
Pappas legal has offices in Asheville, North Carolina and Charlestown/Boston, MA, Your can also locate Pappas Legal by calling our offices at 828-903-8987 (NC and Nationwide) and (617) 934-3092 Massachusetts & New England. Click here for more information.
What types of immigration cases does Pappas Legal PLLC handle?
Pappas Legal can represent you nationwide for cases that deal with citizenship, green cards, employment authorization, immigration court defense (nationwide), Waivers for Inadmissibility, business visas such as EB1A and EB3, L and M business visas. Pappas Legal also works with nonprofits to provide legal advice in immigration matters. Pappas legal also helps victims of crimes to apply for U Visas. Pappas legal also helps with immigration bonds when ICE detains your family member or friend. Pappas Legal also represents clients in Asylum proceedings before USCIS and immigration courts.
How can I schedule a consultation with a lawyer from Pappas Legal PLLC?
To schedule a consultation, please call our offices 24/7 at 828-903-8987 (NC and Nationwide) and (617) 934-3092 Massachusetts & New England or click here to schedule your consultation.
Can I use my consultation fee as a credit toward my legal fees?
Yes! If you retain Pappas Legal to represent you, your consultation fee will count as a credit toward your legal fees.
Can Pappas Legal PLLC represent clients nationwide or internationally?
Yes Pappas legal represents clients nationwide and internationally.
Do you offer Zoom Immigration consultations?
Yes, Pappas Legal schedules Zoom consultation worldwide. As long as you have access to the internet you are only a click away from meeting our lawyers to review your immigration matter.
Can I learn more about Pappas Legal PLLC lawyers?
Yes, please click here to learn about our attorney’s experience, education and the types of immigration matters they handle.
What kind of cases did former Federal Immigration Judge rule over in Boston, MA and Chelmsford, MA?
Attorney George D. Pappas, a former Federal Judge, presided over Asylum, Adjustment of Status, Removal of Conditions and appeals from Asylum Officers in his court rulings.
If ICE arrests me, a family member or a friend, can Pappas Legal PLLC help?
Yes, Pappas Legal PLLC can work with families who have had a member arrested by ICE. Hours matter when someone is arrested by ICE. To help determine if Pappas Legal PLLC can help get you, a family member or friend out of ICE custody, you have to move quickly to contact Pappas Legal as ICE moves people out of your local area quickly. Pappas Legal will need as much information about you, your family member or friend. Pappas Legal will need documents such as marriage certificates, birth certificates, employment history, photos of you or family, letters of support from family members or friends who can state that you are person of good moral character. Prepare these documents now to save precious time if and when you, a family member or friend is arrested by ICE. Call Pappas Legal PLLC 24/7 at 828-903-8987 (NC and Nationwide) and (617) 934-3092 Massachusetts & New England.
If I am a victim of a crime in the United States, can I apply for a special Visa?
Yes, if you were a victim of a qualifying crime and you reported this crime to the local police, Pappas Legal PLLC can help you apply for a U visa.
Did you Know that…
Nearly Half of Fortune 500 Companies in 2025 Founded by Immigrants or Their Children
A new analysis of the 2025 Fortune 500 list reveals that 46.2 percent of America’s largest companies (231 out of 500) were founded by immigrants or their children. These companies generated a staggering $8.6 trillion in revenue in fiscal year 2024 and employed over 15.4 million people worldwide, underscoring the essential role immigrants play in driving innovation, economic growth, and job creation in the United States.
Are local laws aimed at enforcing Federal Immigration law constitutional?
Lawmakers in states and localities within the United States are proposing, and in some cases enacting, laws and ordinances that would enforce existing federal immigration law or create new immigration law. The localities claim that they simply are passing laws pertaining to the state or locality’s power to regulate licensing, contracting, or the like. Yet these state and local laws — which their authors dress up as laws to regulate housing, employment, and local law enforcement — are in actuality attempts to regulate immigration. Almost all of the proposed state and local initiatives are preempted by the federal government’s exclusive authority to regulate immigration and are therefore unconstitutional
Can I apply for citizenship if my grandfather, now deceased, was a naturalized citizen in the United States even though I never lived in the U.S.?
Yes. In fact, if you are the child of the deceased ancestor or grandparent, your children can be sponsored by you for U.S. citizenship. There are certain residency requirements that the deceased ancestor must meet in order for the above to be approved. (Law: The Child Citizenship Act of 2000)
How can I check on the status of my application?
If you have your “receipt” number confirming that your application with the USCIS was received, you can check your status online at by clicking here. Alternatively, if your application was transferred to a local USCIS district office, you need to contact that local office directly, preferably in writing. Be sure to have your “A” number, receipt number, date of birth, copies of any notices from the district offices (e.g., Notice for Interview) to check on the status of your case. Please be advised many local district offices are filled with huge backlogs, as long as one year or more. Don’t expect quick replies.
If USCIS denies my application for citizenship can I appeal? You can utilize an administrative review process if you are denied. If you believe that you were wrongly denied naturalization, you can apply or request a hearing with an immigration officer. Be sure to examine your denial letter. This letter should explain how to request a hearing and will include the form you will need.
What if my “green card” is about to expire in the next six months or has already expired?
You are required to submit your card at the time of your “in person” appearance at your local USCIS Application Support Center (ASC). You will also need have to have photograph, fingerprints and signature taken by USCIS. You will no longer submit photographs. You will also be required to pay for a biometric service.
DID YOU KNOW?
1. Did you know…many people have died in Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody since 2003? These included long-term permanent residents and many, many non-criminals. Nationally, 16 immigrants have died in ICE custody since Jan. 23, 2025 according to ICE records. Ten of the deaths happened in the first six months of 2025 alone — “the highest number of deaths in the first six months of any year listed in ICE’s public records,” said a Sept. 23 letter from concerned legislators to the heads of ICE and DHS” (Source: Arizona Daily Star, October 12, 2025).
2. Did you know…as U.S. citizen does not have a right to bring his or her immigrant spouse to the United States? He or she must prove eligibility, pay steep fines, and often wait a year before a visa is approved.
3. Did you know…a U.S. citizen has to wait many years to bring his or her brothers and sisters to the United States? The wait for citizens from the Philippines is 23 years.
4. Did you know…each year some 65,000-U.S. raised children graduate from high school but because they lack proper status face unique barriers to college, are unable to work legally in the U.S., and live in constant fear of detection by immigration authorities? Most of these children came to the U.S. as very young children and consider themselves American. There are no exemption for honor roll students, star athletes, or National Merit scholars.
5. Did you know…the U.S. will face a shortage of 124,000 physicians by 2025 yet our immigration laws make it extremely difficult for U.S. – licensed, foreign-born medical graduates to remain in the U.S.? Foreign doctors disproportionately staff our emergency rooms and work in underserved regions yet must make special application to become lawful permanent residents.
6. Did you know…immigration law permits foreign entrepreneurs to invest in the United States if they create ten U.S. jobs but the rules are so stringent that very few actually take advantage of these provisions? Such wealthy individuals invest in Canada and other countries instead.
7. Did you know…it takes the average legal worker six years to become a permanent resident and another five years to become a U.S. citizen? Most employers of foreign workers must attest to the Labor Department that the employees they seek to hire will not displace U.S. workers.
8. Did you know…a foreign husband whose U.S. citizen wife dies in child birth has no right to remain in this country even if he filed all the right papers on time but the immigration service delayed in making a decision? The “widow’s penalty” has affected soldiers, police officers, and citizens from all walks of life, not to mention countless single-parented children.
9. Did you know…a foreign national with no criminal record who has overstayed her visa by a few months can be arrested, jailed for months with criminal offenders shackled, and then placed on a plane home? Such nationals are then barred from re-entering the U.S. for ten years.
10. Did you know…that there are some 50 documented cases in the which U.S. citizens have been wrongly arrested and detained for deportation for as long as five years for immigration violations? Of course, U.S. citizens are not subject to deportation, and experts believe there are hundreds of additional such cases. Our immigration laws must be fixed so that individuals are no longer hurt by an obsolete and inadequate immigration system.