evidence: Some immigrants illegally in the country also pay taxes, and that helps cover the costs of assistance programs. [...] Let’s take a closer look at their eligibility for the specific benefits mentioned in the post. Our findings come from a variety of sources, including the National Immigration Forum, the National Immigrant Law Center and federal agencies. [...] Immigrants who emigrated to the U.S. legally are also generally ineligible for assistance until they’ve been a legal resident for at least five years.