US President Donald Trump shared a list showing welfare rates among immigrants, noting that about 33.3% of Nigerian immigrant households receive some form of public assistance in the United States.
The chart was shared on Trump’s Truth Social platform on January 4, 2026, amid continued Republican focus on immigration, welfare dependency, and economic contribution debates in US domestic politics.
The chart, titled “Immigrant Welfare Recipient Rates by Country of Origin,” covers approximately 114 nations and territories, showing the number of households that receive some form of public support, such as food assistance, healthcare benefits, and others.
What they are saying
Among the countries with the highest reported welfare rates, here are the top 10 countries whose immigrants in the US receive the highest assistance.
Bhutan – 81.4%
Yemen – 75.2%
Somalia – 71.9%
Marshall Islands – 71.4%
Dominican Republic – 68.1%
Afghanistan – 68.1%
Congo – 66.0%
Guinea – 65.8%
Samoa (1940–1950) – 63.4%
Cape Verde – 63.1%
Top 10 countries with the lowest percentage
Bermuda – 25.5%
Saudi Arabia – 25.7%
Israel/Palestine – 25.9%
Argentina – 26.2%
South America (unspecified) – 26.7%
Korea – 27.2%
Zambia – 28.0%
Portugal – 28.2%
Kenya – 28.5%
Kuwait – 29.3%
Broader immigration context
Alongside the welfare statistics, the Trump administration expanded travel bans and immigration restrictions on who is allowed into the United States and under what conditions.
Initially, a June 2025 presidential proclamation imposed full and partial travel bans on foreign nationals from a range of countries deemed security risks, citing terrorism concerns, poor identity document systems and inadequate cooperation with U.S. immigration enforcement.
Full bans blocked all visa issuance and entry for citizens of 12 countries, while partial restrictions limited certain visa categories such as tourist, student and exchange visas for nationals of seven others.
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