### Question
Can you define what qualified alien means?


### Answer
**Qualified alien** is defined as the following in *8 U.S.C. § 1641*:

> an alien who, at the time the alien applies for, receives, or attempts to receive a Federal public benefit, is—


(1) an alien who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.],


(2) an alien who is granted asylum under section 208 of such Act [8 U.S.C. 1158],


(3) a refugee who is admitted to the United States under section 207 of such Act [8 U.S.C. 1157],


(4) an alien who is paroled into the United States under section 212(d)(5) of such Act [8 U.S.C. 1182(d)(5)] for a period of at least 1 year,


(5) an alien whose deportation is being withheld under section 243(h) of such Act [8 U.S.C. 1253] (as in effect immediately before the effective date of section 307 of division C of Public Law 104–208) or section 241(b)(3) of such Act [8 U.S.C. 1231(b)(3)] (as amended by section 305(a) of division C of Public Law 104–208),


(6) an alien who is granted conditional entry pursuant to section 203(a)(7) of such Act [8 U.S.C. 1153(a)(7)] as in effect prior to April 1, 1980,


(7) an alien who is a Cuban and Haitian entrant (as defined in section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980), or


(8) an individual who lawfully resides in the United States in accordance with a Compact of Free Association referred to in section 1612(b)(2)(G) of this title, but only with respect to the designated Federal program defined in section 1612(b)(3)(C) of this title (relating to the Medicaid program)

#### Citation:
  - *8 U.S.C. § 1641*
  - Heading: **CHAPTER 14-RESTRICTING WELFARE AND PUBLIC BENEFITS FOR ALIENS > SUBCHAPTER IV-GENERAL PROVISIONS**

