Immigrants legally residing in the country who have not secured "legal permanent resident" status. Many of these people were formerly eligible for public assistance under the same criteria as legal permanent residents and citizens. Under the new welfare law, however, they are classified along with undocumented immigrants as "unqualified" for federal public benefits. This category includes, among others: foreign nationals in the country under a nonimmigrant visa; applicants for asylum, registry, cancellation of removal, or adjustment of status; those granted deferred action, Family Unity, temporary protected status (TPS), or an order of supervision.

Permanent Residence Under Color of Law (PRUCOL) is not recognized as an immigration status by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); this category was created by the courts and is a public benefits eligibility category. For a person to be residing "under color of law," the USCIS must know of the person’s presence in the U.S., and must provide the person with written assurance that enforcement of deportation is not planned.