State immigrant rights movements continued to gain ground in 2023. “Health Care for All” campaigns achieved significant victories, while legislatures across the political spectrum expanded access to care for immigrant children and/or pregnant people.
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and the District of Columbia enacted several immigrant inclusive measures. And Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia also adopted pro-immigrant laws or policies.
As detailed in this report, states improved access to driver’s licenses, higher education, professional licenses, childcare, tax credits, and nutrition assistance, protected workers’ rights, strengthened consumer privacy, and invested in access to counsel for immigrants. With a new Democratic trifecta, advocates in Minnesota secured a series of laws that had been championed for many years.
Read MoreMajor 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”...
New NILC Resource Helps Medical Staff Advocate for Patients in Immigration Custody
Published Jun 9, 2026 The National Immigration Law Center (NILC) published new guidance today for hospitals and clinics caring for patients in immigration custody, a challenge that medical staff are increasingly facing as a result of the Trump administration’s...
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...