Schumer Denounces GOP Claims on Immigrant Healthcare During Shutdown

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have strongly refuted Republican claims that Democrats are using the government shutdown to provide free healthcare to undocumented immigrants, calling these accusations false and misleading. President Donald Trump and other Republican leaders have alleged that Democrats demand healthcare for "illegal aliens," but experts and officials clarify that undocumented immigrants are not eligible for federally funded health insurance programs like Medicare or Medicaid. The real dispute centers on Democrats' efforts to restore health coverage for lawfully present immigrants, such as green card holders and asylum recipients, whose eligibility was revoked under a spending bill signed by Trump earlier in 2025. Democrats also seek to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies, which have significantly aided millions of Americans but are set to expire, potentially doubling insurance costs for many. Schumer characterizes the Republican narrative as fear-driven tactics aimed at pressuring Democrats amid the shutdown, emphasizing that Republicans have failed to propose meaningful healthcare protections for Americans. The ongoing shutdown underscores deep partisan divisions over healthcare policy and government funding priorities.