Wesley Hunt, a Republican representative from Texas, has reached out to key agency leaders with a plan to swiftly remove around 1.4 million undocumented immigrants currently receiving Medicaid in the U.S. He criticized Congressional Democrats for, as he put it, perpetuating myths about “Medicaid cuts” while overlooking the fact that a significant number of undocumented individuals access these benefits.
Hunt’s letter was directed to Secretary of Homeland Security Christie Nome and Dr. Mehmet Oz, who heads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. In his correspondence, he urged the establishment of a task force to address the situation he described as a misuse of the health care system and to ensure these individuals are promptly removed from the country.
He mentioned that President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” includes measures aimed at excluding undocumented immigrants from taxpayer-funded healthcare, although it’s facing some last-minute adjustments in the Senate. Recently obtained documents reveal this bill has been discussed among Congressional leaders.
The White House has commented that while Congress will review certain aspects of these “big beautiful bills,” they don’t anticipate any significant overhauls. Hunt pointed out that around 1.4 million people currently enrolled in Medicaid do not qualify due to their immigration status but still benefit from state-funded programs.
On Thursday, discussions in the Senate focused on revising legislation that would eliminate Medicaid eligibility for undocumented immigrants. There are indications that some bills may be reworked to ensure their incorporation into the final version.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has been actively involved in strategizing around the Medicaid-related provisions as well. He described the current challenges as “speed bumps,” affirming that they were somewhat expected and, while adjustments might be necessary, progress is being made.
Ultimately, Hunt believes that simply identifying undocumented immigrants receiving free medical care provides enough reason to remove them from the country. His vision likely sees coordination between the DHS and CMS as essential to develop strategies for identifying individuals based on data and taking appropriate action against immigration law violations.
“We must protect American resources for American citizens,” Hunt concluded, signaling a firm stance on the matter.
