Trump's Domestic Policies on Welfare and Immigration Are Beneficial for America
Source: Eddie Scarry. "Here Are Two Very Good Things Trump Is Doing Domestically." May 7, 2026. thefederalist.com
The Gist
The author argues that Trump is doing two good things: making people work to get food stamps and stopping fake asylum seekers. He believes most people on food stamps don't really need them and most asylum seekers aren't really being persecuted.
Conclusion
Despite current challenges, Trump's administration is implementing two important domestic policies that deserve recognition and support: reducing food stamp dependency and ending asylum abuse
Premises
- New federal work requirements have successfully removed over three million people from food stamps, with Arizona seeing a 50 percent drop in enrollment
- The previous administration's 25 percent increase in food stamp benefits in 2021 was the largest expansion in history and went too far
- The current asylum system is being abused by foreigners who claim asylum without genuine persecution to gain indefinite right to stay in the U.S.
- Asylum claims tripled between 2017 and 2019 as word spread that claiming asylum triggered a years-long legal process allowing people to remain in the country
- The new visa policy requiring applicants to affirm they don't fear their home government will prevent asylum abuse before people reach U.S. soil
- Most asylum seekers are not genuinely persecuted but come from countries with problems they helped create through their voting choices
Assumptions
- Work requirements for able-bodied adults without children are reasonable and beneficial
- Reducing welfare dependency strengthens society
- Most asylum claims are fraudulent or illegitimate
- Immigration should be limited and controlled
- People are responsible for the governments they elect in their home countries
- Preventing asylum claims at the visa stage is more effective than border enforcement