Senators J.D. Vance (R-OH) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) have joined a group of House Republicans in expressing their concerns to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra regarding a plan that would grant taxpayer-subsidized healthcare benefits to illegal aliens enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
In April, President Joe Biden announced his intentions to expand Obamacare and Medicaid to nearly 600,000 DACA illegal aliens, with both programs being funded by American taxpayers. The DACA program, initially established by former President Barack Obama through executive order, has shielded over a million illegal aliens from deportation over the years. The House and Senate Republicans have voiced their objections, stating:
The proposed rule by HHS indicates that this expansion aims to make hundreds of thousands of previously ineligible illegal aliens eligible for various healthcare programs, including Qualified Health Plans, premium tax credits, cost-sharing reductions, and the Basic Health Program. The Department estimates that this expansion will cost over $100 million in the first year alone. [Emphasis added]
By extending health insurance coverage to DACA recipients, this policy places an additional burden on programs intended to serve U.S. citizens while simultaneously incentivizing more aliens to enter our country illegally, hoping to receive similar protection and services. Regrettably, this approach aligns with the open-borders agenda championed by Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, as hundreds of thousands of aliens continue to be apprehended each month attempting to enter our country unlawfully. [Emphasis added]
Moreover, the Biden Administration’s decision undermines President Obama’s promise that the Affordable Care Act would not provide healthcare coverage to illegal immigrants. This demonstrates the radical stance the current administration has taken on immigration issues. [Emphasis added]
During his 2012 State of the Union Address, President Obama assured Americans that illegal aliens would not be eligible for Obamacare, to which Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) famously exclaimed, “You lie!” The Republicans also highlight that Biden’s plan to open Obamacare to DACA illegal aliens comes at a time when 25 million Americans remain uninsured, and many others struggle with unaffordable health insurance plans that offer limited coverage.
“Considering that over 25 million Americans lack health insurance, it is difficult to fathom why the government would prioritize providing health insurance coverage to illegal aliens,” the Republicans state:
It is evident that using taxpayer dollars to offer healthcare to illegal aliens is not in the best interest of Americans, particularly when our government fails to enforce existing immigration laws against these individuals. [Emphasis added]
We urge you to discard this proposed rule and refrain from broadening the definition of “lawfully present.” It is high time for the federal government to prioritize the interests of American citizens, and an excellent starting point would be prioritizing health insurance coverage for American citizens and legal residents. [Emphasis added]
Previous research has estimated that providing Obamacare to illegal aliens would cost American taxpayers approximately $4,600 per individual. This estimate suggests that taxpayers could be burdened with an annual cost of approximately $2.8 billion to offer Obamacare to every DACA illegal alien.
According to estimates by Chris Conover, formerly of the Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research at Duke University, American taxpayers are already compelled to subsidize at least $18.5 billion in annual medical costs for illegal aliens residing in the United States.
