Although there are many ways of describing
the states’ choices, one simple approach indicates if the states offered TANF, Medicaid,
food assistance, and SSI to pre-enactment and post-enactment immigrants during the initial
5-year bar. It turns out that almost every jurisdiction (50 out of 51) offered TANF and
Medicaid to pre-enactment immigrants. A few states went beyond this “minimal” level of
generosity and offered other programs to their pre-enactment immigrant populations and to
post-enactment immigrants during the 5-year bar