Rules Before Results
Methodology
The site preserves the audit's core discipline: measure only what the public record supports, label every number by type and basis, and document gaps rather than manufacturing certainty.
Binding Rules
| Rule | Application |
|---|---|
| Gross, not net | Figures measure money directed toward non-citizens or non-U.S. recipients, not net fiscal impact. |
| Total A / Total B | Total A is gross federal resources. Total B is value ultimately reaching non-U.S. recipients after documented U.S.-capture share. |
| Never mix number types | Appropriation, budget authority, obligation, outlay, payment, and caseload remain distinct. |
| No population-share modeling | If an agency does not publish status breakouts, the gap is documented instead of estimated. |
| Citizen-child exclusion | Benefits paid for U.S.-citizen children in mixed-status households are excluded as citizen benefits. |
Evidence Classes
Evidence hierarchy: federal accounting records and statutes first; non-partisan analyses next; then peer-reviewed sources; then policy organizations; advocacy sources last.