Governor Gavin Newsom (D) called for a pause on new enrollments of adult illegal immigrants in the state’s health care benefit program.
Under Newsom’s proposal, Medi-Cal would no longer accept new enrollees aged 19 and older beginning in 2026.
“We’re not cutting or rolling back those enrolled in our Medi-Cal system. We’re just capping it,” said Newsom. “No state has done more than the state of California. No state will continue to do more than the state of California.”
The state’s budgetary decisions placed partial blame on President Donald Trump. “Trump’s pendulum swings on tariffs have slowed the economy and weakened state revenues by a staggering $16 billion,” the document, reviewed by Fox News, claims.
Newsom “refuses to turn his back on hardworking Californians, especially when it comes to their basic health care needs,” it further declares. “But because of the $16 billion Trump Slump and higher-than-expected health care utilization, the state must take difficult but necessary steps to ensure fiscal stability and preserve the long-term viability of Medi-Cal for all Californians.”
The proposal also includes the addition of a $100 per month premium for Medi-Cal enrolled aged 19 and older with “unsatisfactory immigration status,” which is described as people “whose immigration status makes them ineligible for federally funded Medicaid, including people with lawful status and the undocumented.”
The plan comes as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has launched an investigation into California over the state’s assistance program for immigrants.
“The Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles Field Office issued a Title 8 subpoena to the State of California’s Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI),” DHS announced. The program specifically provides benefits to illegal immigrants who are unable to receive Social Security benefits due to their immigration status.
