FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 18, 2024
CONTACT
Email: [email protected]
Adrian Escárate, 202-609-9976
Emily Morris, 213-457-7458
NILC Celebrates the House Passage of the SPEAK Act
WASHINGTON — Kica Matos, president of the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement in response to the U.S. House of Representatives’ bipartisan passage of the Supporting Patient Education And Knowledge (SPEAK) Act, which would establish best practices for improving access to telehealth for non-English speakers:
“Telehealth is a lifeline for so many families to access care, but too often this crucial service is placed out of reach for people with limited English proficiency. All of us, no matter where we were born or which language we speak, should have equitable access to the benefits of virtual health care. By making telehealth more accessible for people with limited English proficiency, we can improve health outcomes and lower costs. We are grateful to Representatives Michelle Steel and Jimmy Gomez for championing this legislation, and we call on the Senate to pass the SPEAK Act without delay.”
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Major Benefit Programs Available to Immigrants in California (Table)
Updated Jul 21, 2026 This table lists the programs for which certain immigrants residing in California are eligible. Originally published in May 2017.
NILC Responds to Trump’s Cruel ‘Public Charge’ Rule Change
Published Jul 16, 2026 Sarah Krieger, senior policy counsel at the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement in response to the Trump administration's finalized “public charge”...
Dignified Health Care Shouldn’t Stop With ICE Detention
Published Jun 9, 2026 Health care workers and advocates deserve tools that can help them navigate the rising presence of ICE in hospitals, which is why we put together our new resource: Advocating on Behalf of Patients in Immigration Custody....
Hundreds of Thousands of Immigrants are Losing Health Care and Food Aid, Thanks to Congress
Ben D’Avanzo and Yarely Martinez-Lopez
Published Jul 15, 2026 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...