White House officials are mulling whether to authorize another round of direct payments to Americans.
Over 160 million Americans received payments authorized by the CARES Act, which was passed by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump in March.
Lawmakers are debating another virus relief package this month. The package could include another round of direct payments.
“We’re very focused on, as part of the next CARES Act we’re going to seriously consider whether we need to put more payments and direct payments,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told reporters at the White House on Thursday.
The first payments, he said, “worked very well.”
Payments of up to $1,200 were available to most taxpayers. Parents were eligible for an additional $500 for each child.
Trump said Wednesday he supports another round of direct payments.
“I want the money getting to people to be larger so they can spend it. I want the money to get there quickly and in a non-complicated fashion,” he said.
President Donald Trump’s name is seen on a stimulus check issued by the IRS to help combat the adverse economic effects of lockdowns imposed to try to curb the spread of the coronavirus, in San Antonio, Texas, on April 23, 2020. (Eric Gay/AP Photo)Illegal Immigrants
The Trump administration doesn’t want stimulus payments going to illegal immigrants, Mnuchin emphasized.
“Our position is that legal Americans, American citizens, should get the payments. That’s our focus,” he told reporters.
“If people are here illegally, they’re not going to get economic payments,” he added.
Mnuchin was responding to a question about a lawsuit (pdf) that claims only sending payments to children with parents who have valid Social Security numbers is a form of discrimination.
The virus relief package that authorized the stimulus checks, known as CARES, “discriminates against and excludes from this expansive aid program one of the country’s most vulnerable groups: U.S. citizen children of undocumented parents,” the lawsuit states.
Undocumented is a term used by some groups to describe people in the country illegally.
Plaintiffs, seven U.S. citizen children and their parents, allege the decision violated the equal protection principles embodied in the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause.
Border Patrol agents apprehend seven illegal immigrants from China, one from Mexico, and one from El Salvador after they tried to evade capture after crossing the Rio Grande from Mexico into the United States near McAllen, Texas, on April 18, 2019. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)The Trump administration sought to have the lawsuit dismissed, arguing the plaintiffs lack standing, the court lacks jurisdiction, and plaintiffs failed to state a claim.
U.S. District Judge Paul Grimm, appointed by former President Barack Obama, ruled last month (pdf) that the case would proceed, asking the administration for a new filing.
Plaintiffs, he said, sufficiently outlined the connection between not receiving the money and harm they allegedly suffered from not getting the payments.
California in May gave each illegal immigrant adult $500, with a cap of $1,000 per household. Applicants had to show proof they’re in the country illegally.
In a related matter, the Department of Education restricted federal grants meant to ease financial hardship for college students during the COVID-19 pandemic from illegal immigrants and international students.
Focus News: 2nd Stimulus: White House Will ‘Seriously Consider’ More Payments