One of the Democrats' biggest claims during the Schumer shutdown was that they were not fighting for taxpayer-funded health care for illegal immigrants as part of the demands they wanted to meet to end the shutdown.
“Federal law prohibits the use of Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and the Affordable Care Act to provide health insurance in any way, shape or form to illegal immigrants—period and period.” Democrats are not trying to change that,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08). proclaimed at that time.
While that's exactly what Jeffries and his fellow Democrats were trying to do, it was clear that the topic of taxpayer funding for illegal immigrant health care was a sore spot, and for good reason, given the likelihood that Jeffries knew that the longer the shutdown dragged on, the more frustrated the American people would become that Democrats were holding up funding for the military and SNAP recipients just to get some guarantees regarding health care for illegal immigrants.
SEE ALSO: Trump Administrator Finds 'Over $1 Billion' of Taxpayer Spent on Health Care for Illegal Aliens
Fast forward to December, however, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) admits he is proud that his state was the first in the country to devote billions of taxpayer dollars to healthcare for undocumented immigrants:
Trump frequently lies about Democrats providing health care to undocumented immigrants. In California, Newsom actually did it. And he defends it.
“I'm proud of it. I believe in universal health care.”
But, he said, “we failed at the border. We need to acknowledge this.” pic.twitter.com/5MFgK9tFQu
— Ezra Klein (@ezraklein) December 11, 2025
It was disclosed back in March, how the Golden State used a Medicaid loophole to help fund its health care for undocumented immigrants through Medi-Cal (note: Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program also open to legal California residents, is paid for with state and federal funds):
California is funneling billions of federal taxpayer dollars to pay for health care for undocumented immigrants, a new study claims.
“They're exploiting an existing loophole in the law,” Paul Winfrey, president and CEO of the Economic Policy Innovation Center (EPIC), told Fox News Digital.
“States can collect these taxes from providers to funnel money back to the state, which they then use to pay to transfer undocumented immigrants into Medicaid. That's literally what's happening.”
HHS Inspector General Report for May 2024 discovered that “California improperly sought federal Medicaid reimbursement of $52.7 million for capitation payments made on behalf of noncitizens with poor immigration status.”
There was money supposedly paid to the feds next month.
Returning to Newsom's recent boast, there were some good heated comments in response to X:
I don't quite understand how Trump is lying about Democrats providing health care to illegal immigrants when Democrats in America's most populous state actually did it. https://t.co/cgcfG2kJNs
— Mark Hemingway (@Heminator) December 11, 2025
Lots of problems with this tweet.
One issue that hasn't gotten enough discussion is that Gavin Newsom wants a credit for taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal immigrants… but wants to make it sound reasonable at the border.
He doesn't acknowledge how one helped cause the other. https://t.co/Yupozmvdhv
— Matt Whitlock (@MattWhitlock) December 12, 2025
“Proud” to be on the wrong side of the 70-30 issue. https://t.co/PR8gI03usF pic.twitter.com/cQSlnyBpaH
— Jack Pandol (@jackpandol) December 12, 2025
Gavin buys votes with federal funds.
— Burrito Queen (@Burrito_Queen7) December 12, 2025
CONNECTED: Free health care for undocumented immigrants now increases ER costs in California by 382 percent
Humiliated Gavin Newsom refuses signed illegal alien benefit when cold reality sets in
One thing that will surely come of Newsom saying the quiet part out loud after congressional Democrats have repeatedly lied about their desire to fund health care for illegal immigrants is that the statement will be used in GOP advertising during the 2026 midterm elections and the 2028 presidential campaign season, where Newsom will presumably be a candidate himself:
This appearance alone will result in about 5 general election adverts.
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) December 12, 2025
Oh, I suspect there will be many more.
Editor's Note: Democratic politicians and their radical supporters will do everything they can to interfere with and threaten the ICE agents who enforce our immigration laws.
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