The Justice Department is warning states that billions of dollars in federal welfare funding could be jeopardized if state agencies fail to report individuals they know are illegally present in the United States. Fox News reports that the warning is contained in a legal opinion issued by the DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel.

The opinion says states participating in two major federal welfare programs must require state agencies to report individuals known to be unlawfully present to the Department of Homeland Security.

The new interpretation reverses a Justice Department position dating back to 1998, which had limited the reporting requirement to agencies directly administering the relevant benefit programs.

The Trump administration says the broader interpretation will strengthen federal immigration enforcement by requiring greater cooperation from states receiving federal welfare funds.

The move could place substantial financial pressure on states that have resisted assisting federal immigration authorities, potentially tying billions in federal assistance to compliance with the reporting requirement.

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