Texas Congressman Questions Medicaid Benefits for Illegal Immigrants in New York

Representative Wesley Hunt of Texas has called on New York Governor Kathy Hochul to provide data on how many of the state’s estimated 670,000 undocumented immigrants are receiving Medicaid benefits. Hunt criticized the state’s use of waivers that allow its Medicaid program to operate outside federal standards.

In a statement, Hunt emphasized that the governor is obligated to report this information to the federal government and questioned whether Hochul would comply, accusing her of protecting lawbreakers at the expense of legal residents’ healthcare.

State officials responded, stating that most undocumented individuals are not eligible for full Medicaid coverage and that those enrolled have not benefited from federal funding. They also argued that Medicaid spending in New York is unrelated to the Section 1115 waivers cited by Hunt.

Hunt pointed out that the Biden administration had rejected similar waivers in other states, asserting that these waivers were not meant to allow illegal immigrants to access benefits. He referenced a recent executive order signed by former President Trump, which aimed to prevent taxpayer-funded benefits from going to ineligible aliens.

The congressman accused the Biden administration of encouraging the expansion of Medicaid to undocumented immigrants contrary to federal law. He called for a review of Medicaid enrollment linked to Social Security numbers and urged transparency and accountability in the program’s administration.

Hunt’s criticism comes amid ongoing debates over immigration policies and healthcare benefits for undocumented migrants, with some arguing that such provisions strain state resources. His push for transparency aligns with broader discussions about immigration law enforcement and federal benefit eligibility.