Is there a tax credit or deduction for supporting non-U.S. family members?

[JamesA]

My Filipina wife has a green card and we live in the U.S. Every month we send money to her mother and sister in the Philippines; this is their only source of income. Can my wife and I claim her mother and sister as dependents when we file jointly? Or, is there any credit or deduction we can use due to this monthly expense? 

[CatinaT1 · Accepted solution]

Unfortunately, no.  You can only claim foreign dependents who you support in Canada or Mexico and they have to have a social security number or an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number).

[Critter-3]

Voiced frustrations  like yours are not appreicated in this public internet forum and could get you banned.  The rule about who can be a dependent has been the same for more than 50 years so the current administration  has nothing to do with the rules as they stand.