Trump touts efforts to boot illegals from public benefits

The Trump administration on Thursday touted its efforts to remove illegal aliens from public benefits programs to preserve the access of American citizens.

"Today, at the direction of President Donald J. Trump, the Administration is taking the biggest step in more than 30 years to protect taxpayer-funded benefits for American citizens — NOT illegal aliens," the White House said in a press release.

The administration particularly pointed to a move from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to restrict illegal aliens from 13 public programs as well as the Department of Education's ending of free tuition for illegals at certain career education programs.

The Departments of Agriculture, Labor, and Justice also moved to limit illegal alien access and to close loopholes that permitted their enrollment.

The collective moves come as the Trump administration seeks to encourage self-deportation, in part, but canceling illegal alien access to public programs and by financing voluntary relocations.