The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 represented a significant shift in U.S. public policy, rendering immigrants ineligible for most federal means-tested programs. We use the 1999 Current Population Survey (CPS) data set to provide the cross-sectional description of immigrants' use of public transfer programs, particularly focusing on Asian American immigrants. Little is currently known about the economic well-being of Asian immigrants and their program participation in the wake of recent welfare reform. This research contributes to the knowledge of Asian immigrants' reliance on public assistance and their socio-demographic characteristics in comparison with other racial/ethnic groups. © 2002 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

immigrants Welfare use Cash and in-kind benefits Racial/ethnic groups Asian/pacific islanders

[No Keywords available]