United States: In 2008, 53% of all households headed by an immigrant (legal or illegal) with one or more children under age 18 used at least one welfare program, compared to 36% for native households with children

Immigrant use of welfare tends to be much higher than natives for food assistance programs and Medicaid. A large share of the welfare used by immigrants is received on behalf of their U.S.-born children. But even households with children comprised entirely of immigrants still have a welfare use rate of 47%.