Dems Big Lie on Closing the Government and Funding Illegals - Its Obvious and Documented
Segment #619
Its generally accepted that between 15 and 20 million undocumented immigrants entered the country between 2020 and 2024. Data on migrant self-deportations, formal deportations, and detentions is compiled by various government agencies, and the figures are subject to change and different reporting methods. During the last Democrat primary, every candidate raised their hand hand in support of providing American taxpayer paid social services for illegal aliens .
According to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announcement from September 2025:
Self-Deportations: An estimated 1.6 million migrants have voluntarily "self-deported" since the beginning of the current administration.1
Formal Deportations: More than 400,000 individuals have been formally removed (deported) since the beginning of the current administration.
Migrants Held Pending Deportation - As of late September 2025, the number of individuals in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention was approximately 59,762.5
Conservatively, and I believe it is far higher, we have at least 10 million illegal aliens still in the country. It is a ridiculous lie that this group of people are not receiving social services paid by the American taxpayer. The shutdown is an attempt to legislate and legitimize this flow of money. Don’t think you will see this covered on the corrupt media.
Available State and Federal Services for Migrants and the Cost
Under federal law, undocumented immigrants are generally ineligible for most major federal public benefit programs, such as comprehensive Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/Food Stamps), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and ACA health insurance subsidies.
However, they remain eligible for a limited set of essential services, primarily those deemed necessary to protect life or guarantee safety in dire situations. These include:
1. Emergency Medical Care
Hospital Emergency Rooms (EMTALA): The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) requires all hospitals that participate in Medicare to provide a medical screening examination and necessary stabilizing treatment for an emergency medical condition, regardless of the patient's immigration status or ability to pay.
Emergency Medicaid: A limited form of Medicaid is available to reimburse hospitals and other providers for the costs of care provided to treat an emergency medical condition for a person who meets all other Medicaid eligibility requirements (like income and resource limits) but does not have eligible immigration status. This does not cover routine, preventive, or non-emergency care.
2. Other Essential & Public Health Services
Public Education (K-12): Based on the Supreme Court ruling in Plyler v. Doe, all children, regardless of their immigration status, have a right to attend public elementary and secondary schools (K-12).
Community Health Centers (FQHCs): Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) receive federal grants and are required to provide primary and preventive care services on a sliding fee scale based on a person's ability to pay, regardless of their immigration status.
Public Health Programs: Services related to immunizations for communicable diseases and testing for and treatment of symptoms of communicable diseases (like tuberculosis or certain sexually transmitted infections) are generally available.
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): This program provides nutrition education, healthy foods, and referrals to health care for low-income pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children. Eligibility is generally based on the individual's needs, not the family's immigration status.
Head Start and Early Head Start: Eligibility for these early childhood education and development programs is based on the child's needs, and the child's or parent's immigration status generally does not bar enrollment.
Short-Term, Crisis, and Disaster Relief:
Assistance that delivers in-kind services at the community level for the protection of life and safety (e.g., soup kitchens, crisis counseling, short-term shelter).
Disaster relief provided under the Stafford Act or comparable state/local programs.
3. State and Local Programs
A small but growing number of states and localities use only their own funds (not federal money) to provide additional services to undocumented immigrants, which can include:
State-funded Health Coverage: Some states provide comprehensive, Medicaid-like coverage to certain groups, such as low-income children and pregnant individuals, regardless of their immigration status.
State-funded Food/Cash Assistance: Some states have created separate programs for food or cash assistance for groups ineligible for federal programs.
Federal law sharply restricts the services available to undocumented immigrants, but a few key programs are accessible, mainly revolving around emergency care, nutrition for vulnerable populations, and K-12 education. Critically, many non-profit and community-level services are available regardless of status, and state governments have the flexibility to fund additional programs.
Here is a detailed breakdown of services available at both the federal and state levels:
1. Federal Services and Programs
Federal eligibility for undocumented immigrants is highly limited, typically restricted to services considered "necessary to protect life or guarantee safety in dire situations" or "non-cash, in-kind, community-level" programs.
Service Category
Program/Law
Details for Undocumented Immigrants
Emergency Health
Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA)
Required at all hospitals with Emergency Departments: Mandates a medical screening and necessary stabilizing treatment for an emergency medical condition, regardless of the patient's immigration status, ability to pay, or insurance.
Emergency Medicaid
A limited form of Medicaid that pays hospitals/providers for the cost of treating an emergency medical condition (including emergency labor and delivery) for individuals who would otherwise qualify for Medicaid (income/resource-wise) but are ineligible due to their immigration status.
Child Nutrition
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Available: Provides nutrition assistance, education, and health referrals to low-income pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children up to age five. Eligibility is based on the individual's needs, and the child's or parent's immigration status generally does not bar the child/mother from receiving WIC benefits.
School Lunch/Breakfast
Available: Children enrolled in K-12 public schools are eligible for free or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. Eligibility is based on family income, and immigration status is not a barrier for the child.
Education
Public K-12 Education
Available: Guaranteed access to public elementary and secondary schools (K-12) based on the 1982 Supreme Court case Plyler v. Doe.
Head Start/Early Head Start
Available: These early childhood education and development programs do not consider immigration status for eligibility.
Safety/Crisis
Disaster Relief
Available: Short-term, non-cash, in-kind emergency disaster relief is provided regardless of immigration status under the Stafford Act.
Other Emergency Services
Includes "non-cash, in-kind" services at the community level necessary for the protection of life and safety, such as: soup kitchens, crisis counseling, and short-term shelter assistance.
2. State-Funded Services (A Patchwork Approach)
Since federal funding is restricted, a growing number of states and the District of Columbia use 100% state funds to offer more comprehensive services to undocumented immigrants. These vary widely by state, but the most significant expansions are in healthcare.
A. State-Funded Healthcare
Several states provide comprehensive or near-comprehensive health coverage to certain groups of residents, regardless of immigration status.
Population
Select States with Comprehensive Coverage (Examples Only)
Children (Ages 0-18)
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and D.C.
Low-Income Adults/Seniors
California (expanding coverage for all low-income residents regardless of status), Illinois (low-income adults and seniors), New York (limited options), Oregon, Washington. (Eligibility often phased in by age.)
Pregnant Individuals
Many states offer state-funded prenatal care, labor, and delivery services to pregnant people who do not qualify for Medicaid due to immigration status (often through the "From-Conception-to-End-of-Pregnancy" option or separate state programs).
B. State-Funded Financial and Food Assistance
A smaller number of states provide non-federally funded cash or food aid to immigrants ineligible for SNAP, TANF, or SSI:
Cash Assistance: Programs like New York's Safety Net Assistance or California's Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) provide cash aid to certain ineligible immigrants.
Food Assistance: States like California have programs (e.g., CalFresh Food Assistance Program, or a program to provide food aid to seniors regardless of status) that extend food benefits beyond federal SNAP eligibility rules.
C. Tuition and Financial Aid
In-State Tuition: A significant number of states allow undocumented students (often those who attended high school in the state) to pay in-state tuition at public colleges and universities.
State-Level Financial Aid: Some states, such as California, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Washington, offer state-funded financial aid to undocumented students who meet certain criteria.
3. Non-Governmental and Community-Level Services
These services are widely accessible across the country and do not typically screen based on immigration status:
Non-Profit and Pro Bono Legal Services: Numerous non-profit organizations provide free or low-cost immigration legal consultation and representation (for deportation defense, asylum applications, T/U visa applications, etc.).
Charity Care: Many hospitals and healthcare systems offer hospital charity care or financial assistance programs that reduce or eliminate bills for low-income patients, regardless of immigration status.
Food Banks and Pantries: Local food banks, meal programs, and faith-based organizations provide food and shelter without immigration checks.
Protection for Victims of Crime: Assistance and services specifically for victims of domestic violence, human trafficking (which can lead to T-visas), and other crimes (which can lead to U-visas) are available to all individuals, regardless of status.
The following estimates are based on the most commonly cited and quantifiable public expenditures: Emergency Medical Care (Federal and State) and K-12 Education (primarily State/Local).
1. Federal and State Spending on Emergency Medicaid
The most easily trackable and frequently discussed federal/state expenditure is Emergency Medicaid, which reimburses hospitals for life-saving emergency care (mandated by EMTALA) provided to individuals who meet all other Medicaid eligibility requirements except for having a qualified immigration status.
Emergency Medicaid Total (FY 2017–2023)
$27 Billion over seven years
Non-partisan analysis of Congressional Budget Office (CBO) data. This figure covers all non-citizen immigrants ineligible for full Medicaid, including undocumented immigrants and some lawfully present immigrants subject to the five-year bar.
Emergency Medicaid (FY 2023)
$3.8 Billion for the fiscal year
This represented approximately 0.4% of total Medicaid spending in FY 2023 ($860 billion).
Important Context:
Low Percentage of Total Spending: While the gross number is in the billions, Emergency Medicaid spending for non-citizens consistently represents less than 1% of total annual Medicaid expenditures.
Federal vs. State Share: The cost of Emergency Medicaid is shared between the federal and state governments, similar to regular Medicaid, though the exact split depends on each state's matching rate.
2. State-by-State Spending
The majority of quantifiable public-sector costs are typically incurred at the state and local level, primarily because states are legally required to fund K-12 public education and because many states choose to fund expanded health coverage.
A. Major State-Level Costs
Service Category
Estimated Annual Cost
Context
K-12 Public Education
Approx. $70 Billion (Estimate)
This is a high-end estimate that accounts for the cost of educating both undocumented children and their U.S.-born citizen children, which is required by the Supreme Court ruling in Plyler v. Doe.
Medical Expenditures (State/Local)
Approx. $22 Billion (Estimate)
This figure attempts to cover state-share of emergency care, uncompensated care, and costs from state-funded healthcare programs for otherwise ineligible immigrants.
3. Comprehensive Net Cost Estimates
The "net cost" is the gross cost of all services minus the taxes paid by undocumented immigrants. These comprehensive estimates are often highly politicized due to the variable accounting methods:
High-End Estimate (Focus on Gross Cost): Some organizations estimate the net cost (costs minus taxes) of illegal immigration for the U.S. at all levels (federal, state, and local) to be at least $150.7 billion annually (as of early 2023). This number typically includes the cost of K-12 education for U.S.-born children and other comprehensive expenses.
Alternative View (Focus on Limited Service Use): Other studies focus on the fact that undocumented immigrants are statutorily ineligible for most major federal benefit programs (SNAP, TANF, SSI, ACA subsidies), often use less health care than their U.S.-born counterparts, and pay billions in taxes toward programs like Social Security and Medicare from which they are excluded.
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The core of the dispute in the Continuing Resolution (CR) centers around Democratic efforts to reverse certain health care eligibility restrictions that were enacted in previous legislation, such as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
While Republicans have publicly claimed that Democrats are seeking to provide "free healthcare for illegal immigrants," the specific provisions Democrats want to roll back primarily concern lawfully present immigrants—not those who are undocumented.
The sections Democrats want to reverse generally relate to:
Medicaid and Affordable Care Act (ACA) Premium Subsidies Eligibility: Democrats sought to repeal sections that narrowed eligibility for Medicaid, Medicare, and ACA premium tax credits to a smaller subset of lawfully present immigrants (e.g., lawful permanent residents, certain Cuban/Haitian entrants), which restricted coverage for other lawfully present groups like:
Refugees
Asylees
Parolees
Victims of human trafficking and domestic abuse
Emergency Medicaid Reimbursement: Democrats also wanted to roll back a provision that reduced the federal government's share of reimbursement to hospitals for the emergency care they are legally required to provide to all people, including those who are undocumented. Rolling this back would increase the federal funding for hospitals but would not change the fact that undocumented immigrants are legally ineligible for comprehensive federal Medicaid coverage.
Federal law generally prohibits undocumented immigrants from receiving most federally funded benefits, including comprehensive Medicaid and ACA coverage. The debate centers on how much to fund certain benefits for those with lawful status and the reimbursement hospitals receive for legally mandated emergency care.