10.01.2026 / Statement

Republicans’ New Health Care Budget Cuts Take Effect Today, Stripping Lifesaving Health Coverage from Lawfully Present Immigrant Children and Families

A third attack in two weeks on the health care of legal immigrant families hurts the health system on which we all rely

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Anthony Wright, executive director of Families USA, issued the following statement in response to the new H.R. 1 restrictions taking effect today, cutting refugees, asylees, humanitarian parolees, and other lawfully present immigrants off health care coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

“Starting today, hundreds of thousands of refugees who fled war, asylees who escaped persecution, and others in our country welcomed through legal humanitarian channels are losing their health coverage. Nothing about these Americans or their status changed – President Trump and Congressional Republicans just decided they should no longer count or be cared for. These refugees and asylees are here lawfully, working, contributing to our community, and building a path to permanent residency. With these budget cuts, children and families who did everything asked of them face new barriers to seeing a doctor, filling a prescription, or getting care when they are sick.

“The restrictions taking effect today are part of a broader set of H.R. 1 immigrant eligibility restrictions estimated to leave more than 1.3 million lawfully present immigrants uninsured, and these actions are not isolated. In less than two weeks, the administration has expanded its public charge rule that leaves some lawfully present families with the impossible choice of gambling on whether accessing care could cost them their future. Last week, the administration moved to cancel more than half a billion dollars Congress appropriated for refugee assistance, pulling support from the very refugees and asylees losing Medicaid and CHIP today.

“The Trump administration is weaponizing the health care system against immigrant communities, as part of a growing assault on immigrant families at every level of government. To be clear, this attack isn’t about undocumented immigrants who are already barred from federal help for health coverage, but rather it is harming people who are lawfully present and following the rules, making it harder to get and keep their coverage. These restrictions will cause more fear, chaos, and confusion among eligible families already on edge because of the administration’s recent actions. Deterring people from getting critical medical care will worsen health outcomes, widen inequities, and put greater financial strain on the health care system we all rely on.

“We stand with immigrant communities that contribute so much to our nation and will continue urging Congress to reverse these xenophobic cuts and to support legislative solutions such as the LIFT the BAR Act to extend Medicaid coverage for immigrants and the Protect American Values Act to block the new public charge rule.

“No one should be denied care, or be afraid to seek it, because of their immigration status. Cutting care does not just impact those losing coverage, who will live sicker, die younger, and be one emergency away from financial ruin, but it impacts their families and communities as well. Because of this law, more people will go uninsured and forgo primary and preventive care. Health providers will see fewer paying patients, driving more uncompensated care. Cutting coverage hurts our public health, the economy, and the health system on which we all rely.”