EL PASO, TEXAS — Restrictions imposed by last year’s federal budget law take effect today, denying health care to millions in immigrant families. The law, which congressional Republicans passed on party lines over the objections of hundreds of organizations nationwide, targets lawfully present immigrants – specifically, immigrants whose status is based on being a domestic violence survivor, a refugee, a human trafficking survivor or who hold other “humanitarian” statuses.
In addition to lawfully present immigrants, these restrictions are also expected to deny health care to U.S. citizens – especially children – in immigrant families. One-fourth of all children in the U.S. lives in immigrant families, and almost all of them are citizens. Research confirms that children are more likely to get the care they need when their parents have access to care. And the nonpartisan health research organization KFF reports that U.S. citizen children in immigrant families are already much more likely to be uninsured (9%) than children in citizen-only families (5%).
In the U.S. House of Representatives, more than 100 lawmakers have cosponsored legislation to reverse these restrictions and lower other barriers to health and social services for immigrant families. And a March 2026 poll found that four fifths (83%) of Americans support health and social services for lawfully present immigrants like those targeted by the Republican budget law.
In response to these restrictions taking effect, the Protecting Immigrant Families coalition released the following statement from its executive director, Adriana Cadena.
“Republicans voted last year to take health care, food, and other basics from their own constituents to fund Trump’s agenda of tax cuts for billionaires and family separation. The damage done to families and communities nationwide intensifies today, as health care restrictions take effect on Medicaid, CHIP, Medicare, and the ACA. And that damage extends to millions of U.S. citizens and health care providers, in addition to lawfully present immigrants. Responsible leaders must demand action on critical policy solutions that reverse these dangerous, shortsighted restrictions.”
