Immigrants

Do 22 million illegal immigrants live in the United States, receive public benefits and vote illegally? No, that's mostly false: Two experts in public policy told Lead Stories that the number of illegal immigrants in the United States is closer to 11 million. Because they are not citizens, they cannot qualify for most public benefits and cannot vote in most…

Did a Democratic Pennsylvania state representative create a bill that enforces reproductive responsibility for men by requiring vasectomies for some "inseminators" and by offering a $10,000 reward for reporting "scofflaws" who don't submit? Yes, that's true, but an October 2, 2021, memorandum of co-sponsorship sent out by Democratic state Rep. Chris Rabb was extravagantly written, tipping off readers his was…

Is a letter rejecting AARP membership and criticizing President Joe Biden's "Socialist politics" from 2021? No, that's not true: The letter was written in 2009 during the administration of former President Barack Obama. A copy of the letter circulating online in 2021 included language that didn't appear in the original letter, including comments about the "Biden Regime" and "illegal perpetrators,"…

Are National Guard troops guarding the Capitol forced to sleep on the floor? No, that's not true. The men and women serving in the National Guard on the DC Mission have hotel rooms and other accommodations. The images Donald Trump Jr. used in the video of troop members on the floor are from January 13, 2021, and are not current…

Does the federal government spend $0 on housing homeless veterans? No, that's not true: The 2021 budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) earmarks approximately $1.9 billion for homeless programs, including housing programs. One such program combines services and vouchers to help homeless veterans and their families find permanent housing. Another gives grants and per diem payments to nonprofits…

Is the COVID-19 positivity rate among migrants at the border "upwards of around 50%"? No, that's not true: It's less than 6%, according to the acting chief of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The claim cited the National Sheriffs' Association as its source when, in fact, that group has said that estimates fall between 5% and 50%. The claim…

Did the AARP spend millions of dollars on TV ads against Republicans? No, that's not true: The AARP is a federally approved non-profit organization that is legally prohibited from being involved in any political campaign in favor or against any candidate. That includes a prohibition against paying for political ads. Nor does the AARP sue the president individually, though the…

Did comedian Steve Harvey write a post titled "How I Feel About Trump" that compared ridding a basement of rabid raccoons to the challenge of fixing the federal government? No, that's not true: The post is a letter written in 2016 and addressed to the Republican National Committee by someone who claims to be an 80-year-old who is responding to…

Did former President Barack Obama declare that he would move his family to Canada if Donald Trump wins re-election in November? No, that's not true: Obama has made no such statement. The claim is completely made up and originated on a satire website. The claim appears in an article (archived here) where it was published by Politico Daily News under…

Did Whoopi Goldberg say "Maybe it's time for me" to leave the U.S. in June 2020? No, that's misleading: Goldberg did say something similar to this, but that was over four years ago, on January 20, 2016, months before the 2016 election. Newly published copycat articles that imply those were recent remarks are deceptive. One example of a recently published…