8 U.S.C. § 1622 — State authority to limit eligibility of quali-

Page 573 TITLE 8—ALIENS AND NATIONALITY § 1622 communicable diseases whether or not such symptoms are caused by a communicable dis- ease. (4) Programs, services, or assistance (such as soup kitchens, crisis counseling and interven- tion, and short-term shelter) specified by the Attorney General, in the Attorney General’s sole and unreviewable discretion after con- sultation with appropriate Federal agencies and departments, which (A) deliver in-kind services at the community level, including through public or private nonprofit agencies; (B) do not condition the provision of assist- ance, the amount of assistance provided, or the cost of assistance provided on the indi- vidual recipient’s income or resources; and (C) are necessary for the protection of life or safe- ty. (c) ‘‘State or local public benefit’’ defined (1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), for purposes of this subchapter the term ‘‘State or local public benefit’’ means— (A) any grant, contract, loan, professional li- cense, or commercial license provided by an agency of a State or local government or by appropriated funds of a State or local govern- ment; and (B) any retirement, welfare, health, dis- ability, public or assisted housing, postsec- ondary education, food assistance, unemploy- ment benefit, or any other similar benefit for which payments or assistance are provided to an individual, household, or family eligibility unit by an agency of a State or local govern- ment or by appropriated funds of a State or local government. (2) Such term shall not apply— (A) to any contract, professional license, or commercial license for a nonimmigrant whose visa for entry is related to such employment in the United States, or to a citizen of a freely associated state, if section 141 of the applica- ble compact of free association approved in Public Law 99–239 or 99–658 (or a successor pro- vision) is in effect; (B) with respect to benefits for an alien who as a work authorized nonimmigrant or as an alien lawfully admitted for permanent resi- dence under the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.] qualified for such benefits and for whom the United States under reciprocal treaty agreements is required to pay benefits, as determined by the Secretary of State, after consultation with the Attorney General; or (C) to the issuance of a professional license to, or the renewal of a professional license by, a foreign national not physically present in the United States. (3) Such term does not include any Federal public benefit under section 1611(c) of this title. (d) State authority to provide for eligibility of il- legal aliens for State and local public bene- fits A State may provide that an alien who is not lawfully present in the United States is eligible for any State or local public benefit for which such alien would otherwise be ineligible under subsection (a) only through the enactment of a State law after August 22, 1996, which affirma- tively provides for such eligibility. (Pub. L. 104–193, title IV, § 411, Aug. 22, 1996, 110 Stat. 2268; Pub. L. 105–33, title V, §§ 5565, 5581(b)(1), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 639, 642; Pub. L. 105–306, § 5(b), Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2927.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT The Immigration and Nationality Act, referred to in subsecs. (a)(2) and (c)(2)(B), is act June 27, 1952, ch. 477, 66 Stat. 163, which is classified principally to chapter 12 (§ 1101 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1101 of this title and Tables. Section 141 of the applicable compact of free associa- tion approved in Public Law 99–239 or 99–658, referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(A), means section 141 of the Compact of Free Association between the Government of the United States and the Governments of the Marshall Is- lands and the Federated States of Micronesia, which is contained in section 201 of Pub. L. 99–239, set out as a note under section 1901 of Title 48, Territories and Insu- lar Possessions, and section 141 of the Compact of Free Association between the United States and the Govern- ment of Palau, which is contained in section 201 of Pub. L. 99–658, set out as a note under section 1931 of Title 48. AMENDMENTS 1998—Subsec. (c)(2)(C). Pub. L. 105–306 added subpar. (C). 1997—Subsec. (c)(2)(A). Pub. L. 105–33, § 5565, inserted before semicolon ‘‘, or to a citizen of a freely associ- ated state, if section 141 of the applicable compact of free association approved in Public Law 99–239 or 99–658 (or a successor provision) is in effect’’. Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 105–33, § 5581(b)(1), made tech- nical amendment to reference in original act which ap- pears in text as reference to section 1611(c) of this title. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1997 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 105–33 effective as if included in the enactment of title IV of the Personal Responsi- bility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104–193, see section 5582 of Pub. L. 105–33, set out as a note under section 1367 of this title. PILOT PROGRAMS ON LIMITING ISSUANCE OF DRIVER’S LICENSE TO ILLEGAL ALIENS Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title V, § 502, Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–671, provided that pursuant to guidelines by the Attorney General, all States could conduct pilot programs to determine the viability, advisability, and cost-effectiveness of denying driver’s licenses to aliens not lawfully present in the United States and, not later than 3 years after Sept. 30, 1996, the Attorney General should submit a report to the Judiciary Committees of Congress. § 1622. State authority to limit eligibility of quali- fied aliens for State public benefits (a) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law and except as provided in subsection (b), a State is authorized to determine the eligibility for any State public benefits of an alien who is a quali- fied alien (as defined in section 1641 of this title), a nonimmigrant under the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.], or an alien who is paroled into the United States under section 212(d)(5) of such Act [8 U.S.C. 1182(d)(5)] for less than one year. Page 574 TITLE 8—ALIENS AND NATIONALITY § 1622 1 See References in Text note below. 2 So in original. Probably should be ‘‘subparagraph (A) or (B)’’. (b) Exceptions Qualified aliens under this subsection shall be eligible for any State public benefits. (1) Time-limited exception for refugees and asylees (A) An alien who is admitted to the United States as a refugee under section 207 of the Im- migration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1157] until 5 years after the date of an alien’s entry into the United States. (B) An alien who is granted asylum under section 208 of such Act [8 U.S.C. 1158] until 5 years after the date of such grant of asylum. (C) An alien whose deportation is being withheld under section 243(h) of such Act [8 U.S.C. 1253] (as in effect immediately before the effective date of section 307 of division C of Public Law 104–208) or section 241(b)(3) of such Act [8 U.S.C. 1231(b)(3)] (as amended by section 305(a) of division C of Public Law 104–208) until 5 years after such withholding. (D) An alien who is a Cuban and Haitian en- trant as defined in section 501(e) of the Ref- ugee Education Assistance Act of 1980 until 5 years after the alien is granted such status. (E) An alien admitted to the United States as an Amerasian immigrant as described in section 1612(a)(2)(A)(i)(V) 1 of this title. (2) Certain permanent resident aliens An alien who— (A) is lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.]; and (B)(i) has worked 40 qualifying quarters of coverage as defined under title II of the So- cial Security Act [42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.] or can be credited with such qualifying quar- ters as provided under section 1645 of this title, and (ii) in the case of any such quali- fying quarter creditable for any period be- ginning after December 31, 1996, did not re- ceive any Federal means-tested public ben- efit (as provided under section 1613 of this title) during any such period. (3) Veteran and active duty exception An alien who is lawfully residing in any State and is— (A) a veteran (as defined in section 101, 1101, or 1301, or as described in section 107 of title 38) with a discharge characterized as an honorable discharge and not on account of alienage and who fulfills the minimum ac- tive-duty service requirements of section 5303A(d) of title 38, (B) on active duty (other than active duty for training) in the Armed Forces of the United States, or (C) the spouse or unmarried dependent child of an individual described in subpara- graph (A) or (B) or the unremarried sur- viving spouse of an individual described in clause (i) or (ii) 2 who is deceased if the mar- riage fulfills the requirements of section 1304 of title 38. (4) Transition for those currently receiving benefits An alien who on August 22, 1996, is lawfully residing in any State and is receiving benefits on August 22, 1996, shall continue to be eligible to receive such benefits until January 1, 1997. (Pub. L. 104–193, title IV, § 412, Aug. 22, 1996, 110 Stat. 2269; Pub. L. 105–33, title V, §§ 5302(c)(2), 5306(d), 5562, 5563, 5581(b)(3), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 599, 602, 638, 643.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT The Immigration and Nationality Act, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (b)(2)(A), is act June 27, 1952, ch. 477, 66 Stat. 163, which is classified principally to chapter 12 (§ 1101 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1101 of this title and Tables. Section 243 of such Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(1)(C), is section 243 of act June 27, 1952, which is classified to section 1253 of this title. Section 1253 of this title was amended generally by Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title III, § 307(a), Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–612, and, as so amended, no longer contains a subsec. (h). For ef- fective date of section 307 of Pub. L. 104–208, see section 309 of Pub. L. 104–208, set out as an Effective Date of 1996 Amendments note under section 1101 of this title. Section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980, referred to in subsec. (b)(1)(D), is section 501(e) of Pub. L. 96–422, which is set out in a note under section 1522 of this title. Section 1612(a)(2)(A)(i)(V) of this title, referred to in subsec. (b)(1)(E), was redesignated section 1612(a)(2)(A)(v) of this title by Pub. L. 105–185, title V, § 503(2), (3), June 23, 1998, 112 Stat. 578. The Social Security Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(2)(B)(i), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620. Title II of the Act is classified generally to subchapter II (§ 401 et seq.) of chapter 7 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of Title 42 and Tables. AMENDMENTS 1997—Subsec. (b)(1)(C). Pub. L. 105–33, § 5581(b)(3), sub- stituted ‘‘withholding’’ for ‘‘with-holding’’. Pub. L. 105–33, § 5562, substituted ‘‘section 243(h) of such Act (as in effect immediately before the effective date of section 307 of division C of Public Law 104–208) or section 241(b)(3) of such Act (as amended by section 305(a) of division C of Public Law 104–208)’’ for ‘‘section 243(h) of such Act’’. Subsec. (b)(1)(D). Pub. L. 105–33, § 5302(c)(2), added sub- par. (D). Subsec. (b)(1)(E). Pub. L. 105–33, § 5306(d), added sub- par. (E). Subsec. (b)(3)(A). Pub. L. 105–33, § 5563(c), inserted ‘‘, 1101, or 1301, or as described in section 107’’ after ‘‘section 101’’. Pub. L. 105–33, § 5563(a), inserted ‘‘and who fulfills the minimum active-duty service requirements of section 5303A(d) of title 38’’ after ‘‘alienage’’. Subsec. (b)(3)(C). Pub. L. 105–33, § 5563(b), inserted be- fore period at end ‘‘or the unremarried surviving spouse of an individual described in clause (i) or (ii) who is de- ceased if the marriage fulfills the requirements of sec- tion 1304 of title 38’’. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1997 AMENDMENT Amendment by sections 5302(c)(2) and 5306(d) of Pub. L. 105–33 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the enactment of title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Page 575 TITLE 8—ALIENS AND NATIONALITY § 1631 Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104–193, see section 5308 of Pub. L. 105–33, set out as a note under section 1612 of this title. Amendment by sections 5562, 5563, and 5581(b)(3) of Pub. L. 105–33 effective as if included in the enactment of title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Op- portunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104–193, see section 5582 of Pub. L. 105–33, set out as a note under section 1367 of this title. § 1623. Limitation on eligibility for preferential treatment of aliens not lawfully present on basis of residence for higher education bene- fits (a) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an alien who is not lawfully present in the United States shall not be eligible on the basis of residence within a State (or a political sub- division) for any postsecondary education ben- efit unless a citizen or national of the United States is eligible for such a benefit (in no less an amount, duration, and scope) without regard to whether the citizen or national is such a resi- dent. (b) Effective date This section shall apply to benefits provided on or after July 1, 1998. (Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title V, § 505, Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–672.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Section was enacted as part of the Illegal Immigra- tion Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, and as part of the Omnibus Consolidated Appropria- tions Act, 1997, and not as part of title IV of the Per- sonal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconcili- ation Act of 1996 which comprises this chapter. § 1624. Authority of States and political subdivi- sions of States to limit assistance to aliens and to distinguish among classes of aliens in providing general cash public assistance (a) In general Subject to subsection (b) and notwithstanding any other provision of law, a State or political subdivision of a State is authorized to prohibit or otherwise limit or restrict the eligibility of aliens or classes of aliens for programs of gen- eral cash public assistance furnished under the law of the State or a political subdivision of a State. (b) Limitation The authority provided for under subsection (a) may be exercised only to the extent that any prohibitions, limitations, or restrictions im- posed by a State or political subdivision of a State are not more restrictive than the prohibi- tions, limitations, or restrictions imposed under comparable Federal programs. For purposes of this section, attribution to an alien of a spon- sor’s income and resources (as described in sec- tion 1631 of this title) for purposes of deter- mining eligibility for, and the amount of, bene- fits shall be considered less restrictive than a prohibition of eligibility for such benefits. (Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title V, § 553, Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–681.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Section was enacted as part of the Illegal Immigra- tion Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, and as part of the Omnibus Consolidated Appropria- tions Act, 1997, and not as part of title IV of the Per- sonal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconcili- ation Act of 1996 which comprises this chapter. § 1625. Authorization for verification of eligibility for State and local public benefits A State or political subdivision of a State is authorized to require an applicant for State and local public benefits (as defined in section 1621(c) of this title) to provide proof of eligi- bility. (Pub. L. 104–193, title IV, § 413, as added Pub. L. 105–33, title V, § 5307(a), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 602.) Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE Section effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the enactment of title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104–193, see section 5308 of Pub. L. 105–33, set out as an Effective Date of 1997 Amendment note under section 1612 of this title. SUBCHAPTER III—ATTRIBUTION OF INCOME AND AFFIDAVITS OF SUPPORT § 1631. Federal attribution of sponsor’s income and resources to alien (a) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in determining the eligibility and the amount of benefits of an alien for any Federal means-test- ed public benefits program (as provided under section 1613 of this title), the income and re- sources of the alien shall be deemed to include the following: (1) The income and resources of any person who executed an affidavit of support pursuant to section 213A of the Immigration and Na- tionality Act [8 U.S.C. 1183a] (as added by sec- tion 423 and as amended by section 551(a) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immi- grant Responsibility Act of 1996) on behalf of such alien. (2) The income and resources of the spouse (if any) of the person. (b) Duration of attribution period Subsection (a) shall apply with respect to an alien until such time as the alien— (1) achieves United States citizenship through naturalization pursuant to chapter 2 of title III of the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1421 et seq.]; or (2)(A) has worked 40 qualifying quarters of coverage as defined under title II of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.] or can be credited with such qualifying quarters as pro- vided under section 1645 of this title, and (B) in the case of any such qualifying quarter cred- itable for any period beginning after December 31, 1996, did not receive any Federal means- tested public benefit (as provided under sec- tion 1613 of this title) during any such period.