WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

The law › Title 8, Aliens and Nationality › Chapter 14

8 U.S.C. 1612: Limited eligibility of qualified aliens for certain Federal programs

Created in 1996 by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-193). Changed by 10 later laws. 1 bill in this Congress would change it.

8 other sections of the Code cite this one, including 7 U.S.C. 2015, 8 U.S.C. 1611, 8 U.S.C. 1613, 8 U.S.C. 1631, 8 U.S.C. 1641.

This Congress

  • H.R. 9877 Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026 · introduced · would change (a)

How it got here

2024

  • Pub. L. 118–42, §209(f)(1)(A), added subpar. (N). (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024) Law text · (a)
  • Pub. L. 118–42, §209(f)(1)(B), substituted "Exception for" for "Medicaid exception for" in heading and "any designated Federal program" for "the designated Federal program defined in paragraph (3)(C) (relating to the Medicaid program)" in text. (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024) Law text · (b)

2020

  • Pub. L. 116–260 added subpar. (G). (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021) Law text · (b)

2008

  • Pub. L. 110–246, §4115(c)(2)(D)(i), substituted "section 3(j)" for "section 3(r)". (Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008) Law text · (a)
  • Pub. L. 110–328 added subpar. (M). (SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act) Law text · (a)
  • Pub. L. 110–246, §4115(c)(2)(D)(ii), substituted "section 3(l)" for "section 3(h)". (Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008) Law text · (a)

2002

  • Pub. L. 107–171, §4401(a), added cl. (i), substituted "(ii) in the case" for "(II) in the case", and struck out former cls. (i) and (ii)(I) which read as follows: (Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002) Law text · (a)
  • Pub. L. 107–171, §4401(b)(1), substituted "who is under 18 years of age." for "who— (Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002) Law text · (a)
  • Pub. L. 107–171, §4401(c)(1), added subpar. (L). (Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002) Law text · (a)

1998

  • Pub. L. 105–185, §503, struck out cl. (i) designation and heading after subpar. (A) heading, substituted "programs described in paragraph (3)" for "program described in paragraph (3)(A)" in introductory provisions, redesignated subcls. (I) to (V) as cls. (i) to (v), respectively,… (Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998) Law text · (a)
  • Pub. L. 105–185, §504(1), substituted "specified Federal programs described in paragraph (3)" for "program defined in paragraph (3)(A) (relating to the supplemental security income program)" in introductory provisions. (Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998) Law text · (a)
  • Pub. L. 105–185, §504(2), designated existing provisions as subcl. (I), inserted "in the case of the specified Federal program described in paragraph (3)(A)," before "is blind", substituted "; and" for period at end, and added subcl. (II). (Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998) Law text · (a)
  • Pub. L. 105–185, §505, substituted "Exception" for "SSI exception" in subpar. heading and "specified Federal programs described in paragraph (3)" for "program defined in paragraph (3)(A) (relating to the supplemental security income program)" in introductory provisions. (Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998) Law text · (a)
  • Pub. L. 105–185, §506, added subpar. (I). (Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998) Law text · (a)
  • Pub. L. 105–185, §507, added subpar. (J). (Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998) Law text · (a)
  • Pub. L. 105–185, §508, added subpar. (K). (Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998) Law text · (a)

1997

  • Pub. L. 105–33, §5302(a), amended heading and text of subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "Paragraph (1) shall not apply to an alien until 5 years after the date— (Balanced Budget Act of 1997) Law text · (a)
  • 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 … (Balanced Budget Act of 1997) Law text · (a)
  • Pub. L. 105–33, §5306(a)(1), added subcl. (V). (Balanced Budget Act of 1997) Law text · (a)
  • 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… (Balanced Budget Act of 1997) Law text · (a)
  • Pub. L. 105–33, §5306(a)(2), added subcl. (V). (Balanced Budget Act of 1997) Law text · (a)
  • Pub. L. 105–33, §5563(c), inserted ", 1101, or 1301, or as described in section 107" after "section 101". (Balanced Budget Act of 1997) Law text · (a)
  • 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". (Balanced Budget Act of 1997) Law text · (a)
  • Pub. L. 105–33, §5563(b), inserted before period at end "or the unremarried surviving spouse of an individual described in clause (i) or (ii) who is deceased if the marriage fulfills the requirements of section 1304 of title 38". (Balanced Budget Act of 1997) Law text · (a)
  • Pub. L. 105–33, §5301(c)(1), substituted "September 30, 1998," for "September 30, 1997,". (Balanced Budget Act of 1997) Law text · (a)
  • Pub. L. 105–18, §6005(a)(1), substituted "September 30, 1997" for "the date which is 1 year after August 22, 1996". (1997 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Recovery from Natural Disasters, and for Overseas Peacekeeping Efforts, Including Those in Bosnia) Law text · (a)
  • Pub. L. 105–33, §5301(c)(2), substituted "September 30, 1998" for "September 30, 1997,". (Balanced Budget Act of 1997) Law text · (a)
  • Pub. L. 105–18, §6005(a)(2), substituted "September 30, 1997," for "the date of the redetermination with respect to such individual". (1997 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Recovery from Natural Disasters, and for Overseas Peacekeeping Efforts, Including Those in Bosnia) Law text · (a)
  • Pub. L. 105–33, §5301(a), added subpar. (E). (Balanced Budget Act of 1997) Law text · (a)
  • Pub. L. 105–33, §5301(b), added subpar. (F). (Balanced Budget Act of 1997) Law text · (a)
  • Pub. L. 105–33, §5303(a), added subpar. (G). (Balanced Budget Act of 1997) Law text · (a)
  • Pub. L. 105–33, §5304, added subpar. (H). (Balanced Budget Act of 1997) Law text · (a)
  • Pub. L. 105–33, §5302(b), amended heading and text of subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: (Balanced Budget Act of 1997) Law text · (b)
  • 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 … (Balanced Budget Act of 1997) Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 105–33, §5306(b)(1), added subcl. (V). (Balanced Budget Act of 1997) Law text · (b)
  • 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… (Balanced Budget Act of 1997) Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 105–33, §5306(b)(2), added subcl. (V). (Balanced Budget Act of 1997) Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 105–33, §5563(c), inserted ", 1101, or 1301, or as described in section 107" after "section 101". (Balanced Budget Act of 1997) Law text · (b)
  • 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". (Balanced Budget Act of 1997) Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 105–33, §5563(b), inserted before period at end "or the unremarried surviving spouse of an individual described in clause (i) or (ii) who is deceased if the marriage fulfills the requirements of section 1304 of title 38". (Balanced Budget Act of 1997) Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 105–33, §5303(b), added subpar. (E). (Balanced Budget Act of 1997) Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 105–33, §5305(b), added subpar. (F). (Balanced Budget Act of 1997) Law text · (b)

1996

  • Pub. L. 104–208 amended subcl. (I) generally. Prior to amendment, subcl. (I) read as follows: "With respect to the specified Federal program described in paragraph (3)(B), during the period beginning on August 22, 1996, and ending on the date which is 1 year after August 2… (Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act) Law text · (a)

Text, outline and history from the official U.S. Code (2024 edition) on GovInfo, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel. Changes made after that edition appear under This Congress.