Congressman introduces bill to exclude illegal immigrants from Medicaid
“This common sense legislation ensures that taxpayer-funded healthcare benefits are preserved for those who lawfully qualify, prioritizing the needs of American citizens and legal residents while promoting fairness and fiscal responsibility,” Kiley said in a statement on the bill.
By Kenneth Schrupp | The Center Square
Published: January 26, 2025 10:42pm
Congressman Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., has introduced a bill that would prevent states such as California from allowing illegal immigrants to enroll in Medicaid. Kiley estimates this would save California $6.5 billion per year; in January 2024, the state expanded Medicaid enrollment to include all illegal immigrants.
“This common sense legislation ensures that taxpayer-funded healthcare benefits are preserved for those who lawfully qualify, prioritizing the needs of American citizens and legal residents while promoting fairness and fiscal responsibility,” Kiley said in a statement on the bill.
Kiley also noted that many Americans enrolled in Medicaid, a taxpayer-funded public healthcare system for low-income individuals, are already struggling to find doctors.
“California is spending $6.5 billion each year providing free health care to everyone here illegally,” Kiley said Kiley X. “Meanwhile, many of our own citizens can't even get in to see a doctor.”
California, which has sanctuary state laws limiting state and local law enforcement agencies from actively assisting federal immigration officials, is currently in a special session called by Gov. Gavin Newsom to “Trump-proof” the state, chiefly by providing $25 million for state and local lawsuits against the Trump administration, and another $25 million for legal aid, largely for deportation defense.
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