A new accusation against the Biden-Harris administration has sparked outrage, as a prominent think tank claims they have facilitated what is being called the largest handout to illegal immigrants in American history. This bold claim, made by Hayden Dublois, Data and Analytics Director at the Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA), raises significant concerns about the administration’s expansion of Medicaid benefits, allegedly to the benefit of illegal immigrants.
In an opinion piece published by Fox News, Dublois outlined the rapid growth in Medicaid enrollment among illegal immigrants, presenting startling figures that showcase an alleged fivefold increase between 2019 and 2023. According to his report, the number of illegal immigrants receiving Medicaid benefits has ballooned by 500% across nine states. Today, it is estimated that more than 100,000 illegal immigrants are accessing Medicaid nationwide, costing U.S. taxpayers a staggering $1 billion annually.
At the center of this controversy is a new federal regulation, enacted by Biden’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in June. This policy change, according to Dublois, allows illegal immigrants to remain on Medicaid indefinitely, sidestepping previous rules that required proof of citizenship or lawful residence within 90 days of applying for Medicaid. The 90-day grace period, initially implemented as a temporary measure to allow applicants to submit documentation, is now reportedly being extended without any hard deadlines.
This new rule has drawn intense criticism, as it effectively creates what Dublois and the FGA describe as a loophole that keeps illegal immigrants on Medicaid rolls permanently. With the extension of these grace periods, states are now unable to remove ineligible individuals from Medicaid, creating a system ripe for abuse and overburdening an already strained healthcare safety net.
The FGA warns that the worst is yet to come. As word of this extended benefit period spreads, Dublois argues, the U.S. could see an even greater surge of illegal immigration. The expanded Medicaid benefits, which are meant for American citizens and lawful residents, are now viewed as a substantial incentive for those crossing the border illegally.
The concern is that this policy shift could exacerbate the current situation at the southern border, which has already seen unprecedented numbers of illegal crossings under the Biden-Harris administration. The FGA’s data shows that this influx could lead to a deluge of new Medicaid applications from illegal immigrants, further straining state healthcare systems and diverting resources meant for U.S. citizens.
The expansion of Medicaid to illegal immigrants under the Biden administration has become a highly charged political issue. Critics of the administration, particularly conservative voices, have framed the decision as an affront to American taxpayers, claiming that the U.S. government is prioritizing the needs of illegal immigrants over its own citizens. This narrative is particularly potent in the current political climate, with less than a year until the 2024 presidential election.
Dublois pointed out that this is not just a matter of fiscal irresponsibility but also one of fairness. “The nation exists not for illegal aliens but for citizens,” he wrote. He argues that policies like these are undermining the core purpose of a nation, which is to serve its citizens first and foremost. In his view, affluent liberals, such as those in the Biden-Harris administration, are more interested in virtue-signaling and expanding government dependence than protecting the interests of ordinary Americans.
This argument is further fueled by the assertion that the Biden-Harris administration’s actions are not just a policy failure but a deliberate attempt to dismantle American sovereignty. Critics like Dublois claim that the administration’s support for illegal immigration and expanded government benefits to non-citizens is part of a broader agenda to erode the nation’s borders and sovereignty.
The Foundation for Government Accountability, a conservative think tank, has been vocally opposed to the Biden administration’s handling of illegal immigration and social welfare programs. The FGA argues that this new Medicaid regulation is a direct result of the administration’s broader failure to secure the southern border. Their position is clear: providing healthcare benefits to illegal immigrants only incentivizes more illegal crossings and drains resources that should be reserved for American citizens.
As this debate rages on, it is important to note that the Biden administration has not publicly addressed these specific claims. However, the Department of Health and Human Services has defended its Medicaid expansion policies as a necessary measure to ensure that all people, regardless of their immigration status, have access to basic healthcare.
The political implications of this Medicaid expansion are likely to loom large in the coming months. With a contentious election approaching, the issue of illegal immigration and government handouts is expected to play a central role in political campaigns across the country. For now, the Biden-Harris administration faces mounting pressure from conservative think tanks and political opponents who argue that this expansion is both financially reckless and fundamentally un-American.
In the eyes of critics like Dublois, the Biden administration’s Medicaid policy is a symbol of a deeper, more troubling trend: a government more interested in serving non-citizens than protecting the rights and resources of its own people. Whether this will resonate with voters, and how it will impact the administration’s standing, remains to be seen.
