California, Minnesota Lawmakers Restrict Immigrant Health Care Amid Budget Deficits

California lawmakers are navigating a significant budget deficit by proposing to freeze enrollment in Medi-Cal for immigrants without legal status, a scaled-back version of Governor Gavin Newsom's original plan. The Legislature intends to expand the freeze to include more non-citizens with unsatisfactory immigration status while preserving benefits for those currently enrolled and easing re-enrollment rules. They also plan to reduce the proposed monthly premium for immigrants and delay cuts to dental and home care benefits. This fiscal strategy reflects broader challenges faced by Democratic-led states like Illinois and Minnesota, which are also rolling back health care access for undocumented low-income adults due to budget constraints. In Minnesota, a bipartisan legislature passed a measure to prevent illegal immigrant adults from receiving free taxpayer-funded health insurance, though children remain eligible. These budget decisions come amid heightened tensions over immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump's administration and ongoing protests in California, with state leaders balancing progressive priorities against fiscal realities and potential federal funding cuts.