Progress to Eliminate Exclusions Based on Immigration Status Must Not be Undone
Sacramento, CA – The steering committee member organizations of the #Health4All coalition released the following statements in response to the CA Legislature’s announcement of a joint budget deal that keeps intact the Governor’s framework that continues to balance the budget on the back of our immigrant communities and builds in structural inequities in our health care system for years to come.
“The legislative budget proposal largely doubles down on the Governor’s plan, delaying or modifying some aspects but using the same framework to single out immigrants in Medi-Cal with premiums, an expanded enrollment freeze, and benefit cuts. Thousands of people have spoken out – from Sacramento, to Salinas, to San Diego, and throughout the state – against a proposal like this that balances the budget with deep cuts to our health care system and abandons the state’s commitments to immigrant communities,” said Amanda McAllister-Wallner, Executive Director of Health Access California. “The federal government has spent the better part of this year trying to rip away our health care and tear families apart, and this week they amped up that fight here in California with coordinated and violent raids across the state, the reintroduction of a racist travel ban, and now calling in the national guard against protestors. But we as Californians demand better of our state leaders: The Health4All movement has fought for over a decade to eliminate exclusions based on immigration status—this hard-won progress must not be undone. We urge lawmakers to finalize a budget that prioritizes justice, equity, and compassion, and to reject any future proposals that would divide Californians into separate and unequal systems of care.”
“When we first learned of the proposed cuts to Medi-Cal for immigrant Californians, we were proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with members of the Latino Caucus in our disgust over the discriminatory nature of the governor’s proposal. We are thankful for the caucuses’ support, and outraged that our voices and our concerns have not reached state leadership,” said Masih Fouladi, Executive Director of the California Immigrant Policy Center. “The immigrant community in California is now under attack by the federal government. This is no way to respond to concerns about the health and safety of communities that power our economy and contribute billions in state taxes. Nearly 50% of children in California have immigrant parents. Their parents now have to choose between putting food on the table for their families or paying premiums for their own healthcare. We expected better from state leaders who advocated for support of immigrants during the special session. We will continue to fight back in the coming months and year to ensure that state leadership restores Medi-Cal for All, regardless of people’s immigration status.”
“We are profoundly disappointed that the Legislature’s budget singles out immigrants to be excluded from Medi-Cal, pay unaffordable premiums other patients don’t pay, and lose dental care. Their plan will cause profound harm to communities already suffering the trauma of Trump’s militarized invasion of our communities. These actions will widen disparities and further erode trust in the promise of a California for All,” said Kiran Savage-Sangwan, Executive Director of the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network. “At a time when all eyes are on California, our state must show that immigrant communities are worth fighting for.”
“We are outraged. This legislative budget agreement to delay the Governor’s proposed Medi-Cal cuts is not a solution. Our immigrant communities are suffering from being intentionally targeted. The federal attacks we faced this weekend are yet another reminder that NOW, more than ever, access to mental and physical health needs is not just important, but a necessity. We need our elected leaders to rise to the moment and protect ALL Californians,” said Dr. Seciah Aquino, Executive Director of the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California. “California must do more than delay harm. California must protect and ensure Medi-Cal coverage as a right. We cannot afford half-measures when what’s required is moral clarity and policy action rooted in justice, health, and dignity for all,” said
“We are disappointed in the Legislature’s decision to maintain the pause to Medi-Cal Services for Immigrants with ‘Unsatisfactory Immigration Status.’ Undocumented Immigrants pay billions in State taxes each year yet these proposals cut access to critical care services. We urge the Legislature to reconsider this proposal and go back to the table and find a way to keep funding Medi-Cal for this critical community,” said Angelica Salas, Executive Director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights.
“Despite the California Legislature weakening some of the more egregious budget cuts targeted at older adults and people with disabilities, maintaining discriminatory cuts to immigrant families is callous,” said Linda Nguy is the Associate Director of Policy Advocacy for Western Center on Law & Poverty. “Western Center on Law and Poverty is deeply disappointed that the Legislature’s budget will cruelly inflict long-term harm by excluding a broad group of immigrants, including many who are lawfully present, from health care access.
The Health4All Campaign began in 2013 when immigrant rights activists, health care advocates, and community members came together to call for expanding health care to all Californians, regardless of immigration status. Since then, the campaign has been able to remove unjust barriers to Medi-Cal eligibility and has fought to include over 1 million Californians into the program.
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For press inquiries, please contact our Director of Communications, Rachel Linn Gish, rlinngish@health-access.org