Hundreds of Thousands of Immigrants are Losing Health Care and Food Aid, Thanks to Congress

A year after H.R. 1 passed, hundreds of thousands of immigrants are likely to lose essential food and health care aid, following the bill’s new restrictions on their eligibility for SNAP, Medicaid, subsidized care on the Affordable Care Act marketplaces (known as Obamacare) and Medicare.

The immigrants losing eligibility are all lawfully present immigrants, as undocumented immigrants have never been eligible for these programs. For SNAP and Medicaid, which already had very strict immigration rules, those losing eligibility are amongst the most vulnerable people: refugees, asylees, and survivors of trafficking and domestic violence. For Affordable Care Act and Medicare coverage, those losing eligibility are taxpayers, including people with Temporary Protected Status and applicants for forms of immigration relief.

In fact, when the reconciliation bill passed, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that:

• 90,000 people would lose SNAP, depriving families of an average of $210 in food.

• 1.2 million fewer people will have coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

• 100,000 immigrants would lose Medicare.

• 100,000 immigrants would lose Medicaid.

Since then, in the absence of any federal data, several states have provided more detailed estimates as they work to understand the impact of this legislation on their budgets and residents:

• New York will lose funding for 730,000 immigrants on the state’s Essential Plan, which includes both previously ACA and Medicaid-eligible immigrant populations.

• Oregon expects 7,000 immigrants will lose federal health care, and the state will pay for their coverage instead.

• Wisconsin estimates 7,200 immigrants are losing SNAP.

• Hawaii projects 1,200 to 2,400 immigrants will lose Medicaid.

• Minnesota estimates 9,000 immigrants will lose SNAP.

• Colorado estimates 7,000 immigrants will lose Medicaid.

To truly understand the way H.R. 1 has hurt immigrants and disrupted their lives, we must look at more than the numbers. Below, we share five stories of some of the people whose lives have been altered by these cruel policies.

The Stories of Who H.R. 1 Has Harmed

Rosa, a TPS recipient, left El Salvador during its civil war and has been working in the United States as a child development professional for over 35 years. Diagnosed with arthritis and high blood pressure, Rosa spent decades paying into Medicare, hoping to count on it when she retired. Now, she faces being stripped of her eligibility next year.

Maria, a 68-year-old refugee also from El Salvador has lost her eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid. After living in the United States for 20 years, she has relied on both programs for her diabetes and high blood pressure.

51-year-old Antoinette, who fled the Democratic Republic of Congo as a refugee after her husband was killed, has already been cut off from SNAP. For Antionette, losing food aid has meant less groceries and more skipped meals. Antoinette said, “How am I going to manage?” as her warehouse job pays just enough to cover her rent and bills.

K.Q., her husband, and their four children have used SNAP to buy grocery essentials, such as bread, cooking oil, and halal meat since entering the United States as refugees from Syria. But last year’s bill took the monthly $635 in SNAP benefits a month away from the family.

Adje and her family are refugees from the Central African Republic and are losing SNAP. After arriving in the United States, Adje has spent her time learning English and working a minimum wage job. With only $525 in pay each week, Adje and her family now face the choice between food and rent.

What Should Congress Do to Protect Low-Income Immigrant Families?

Congress must repeal these cruel restrictions and policymakers have proposed several bills that would do so:

• The LIFT the BAR Act (H.R.9432) would not only repeal the restrictions on those who lost coverage last year, it also would repeal similar restrictions on lawfully present immigrants and the waiting period for green card holders from the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. Enacted in 1996, PRWORA’s history can be traced from the federal government’s obsession with impoverished people proving their value and to anti-Blackness.

• The HEAL for Immigrant Families Act (H.R.4104/ S.2149) would provide a pathway to health coverage for all immigrants, regardless of status.

• The Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act (H.R. 4849/S. 2556) would repeal all the health care cuts from the 2025 reconciliation bill, including restrictions on immigrants’ eligibility.

• The Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act (H.R. 6088/ S.3281) would similarly repeal the SNAP restrictions and cuts from the 2025 reconciliation bill.

Without these bills, families will face a deepening affordability crisis, with no pathway to affordable health coverage or food. It is imperative that Congress act as soon as possible to end the harm.