Texas Representative Questions New York on Medicaid for Illegal Immigrants
Texas Rep. Wesley Hunt has reached out to New York Governor Kathy Hochul regarding the state’s Medicaid benefits potentially extended to an estimated 670,000 illegal immigrants.
On Monday, Hunt sent a letter to Hochul, expressing his concerns about how New York handles Medicaid under certain exemptions that allow deviations from federal standards.
“Governor Hochul needs to share this information with the federal government. The question remains: Will she prioritize law-abiding citizens or continue to support policies that may jeopardize their healthcare?” Hunt stated.
He further criticized the Democratic leadership, stating, “This is what Democrat leaders look like: open borders, prioritizing the interests of illegal immigrants over the American people.”
A study cited by Hunt indicated that around 1.4 million people in various states claim they do not meet citizenship or satisfactory immigration status, which could make them eligible for Medicaid under specific programs, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates.
Hunt pointed out that New York’s use of the Section 1115 exemption allows for experimentation with Medicaid, which serves about 70 million low-income Americans. However, he noted that the Biden administration has not permitted similar exemptions in states like South Carolina and Arizona. Texas Republicans maintain that these exemptions were not intended to benefit illegal immigrants.
“The Biden administration has allowed and even promoted the extension of Medicaid to undocumented immigrants through these 1115 exemptions,” Hunt wrote in his letter.
In February, former President Trump signed an executive order aimed at ensuring taxpayer-funded benefits would not be given to unqualified individuals, referencing existing laws that generally prevent illegal immigrants from receiving federal benefits.
Hunt also expressed concerns about New York’s Greenlight Law, which enables individuals regardless of immigration status to obtain driver’s licenses. The Justice Department has challenged this law, arguing that it undermines federal immigration enforcement and could facilitate access to taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal immigrants.
To address these issues, Hunt has requested that Hochul conducts a review of Medicaid registrations based on Social Security Numbers and publicly shares the results.
“New Yorkers deserve transparency and accountability in public health programs,” he asserted in his letter to Hochul, emphasizing that diverting resources away from legal recipients not only violates federal standards but also damages public trust and threatens the sustainability of programs intended for vulnerable citizens.
This post included an inquiry for a comment from Hochul’s office.
Recently, speculation has emerged regarding Hunt’s potential candidacy against Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) in the 2026 midterm elections.
