More than a dozen people have been arrested in connection with an alleged scheme that defrauded Massachusetts taxpayers of more than $1.4 million in public benefits. 

The US Justice Department announced Thursday that 15 individuals are facing charges tied to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), MassHealth, Social Security disability, housing, and unemployment benefits. 

Officials said 11 of the defendants were living in the United States without legal status. 

“These cases highlight a broader, deeply troubling pattern: the exploitation of America’s safety-net by illegal aliens,” Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald, of the National Fraud Enforcement Division, said in a statement announcing the charges.

“Fraud by illegal aliens carries real and substantial costs to American taxpayers and places enormous strain on our public benefits systems,” McDonald added.

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said those facing charges without U.S. legal status “will be swiftly removed” from the country.

Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said the cases mark the beginning of a “sustained and ongoing effort” targeting individuals accused of fraudulently obtaining taxpayer-funded benefits. 

“There isn’t any place else in the world where you can go and be handed free food, free housing, free healthcare, and free monthly checks, while being in the country illegally,” she said. “However, it appears that you can come to Massachusetts and steal as many benefits as you want without fear and without any accountability. This is all ending on my watch.” 

In March, Foley launched the Benefit and Voter Fraud Team to investigate misuse of taxpayer-funded benefits in the state. Foley said beginning Thursday, authorities will be releasing benefit fraud charges on a “rolling basis.” 

“In response to rampant fraud in Massachusetts, and with the support of our task force partners and the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, we’re redoubling our efforts to root out fraud and bring these criminals to justice,” Jeffrey Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England, said.