New Newsom: California governor now calls for rollback of health coverage for illegal immigrants

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has spent years championing illegal immigrants’ right to taxpayer-funded health care, is now calling for a rollback, saying the benefit is threatening to break his budget.

On Wednesday, the Democrat proposed blocking any more illegal immigrants from signing up for Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program for low-income residents.

He also said he wants to start charging a $100 monthly premium for adults with “unsatisfactory immigration status.” That would amount to “some skin in the game” for illegal immigrants using the program. The changes together would save about $5 billion, he said.

“We have to make adjustments in order to balance the budget,” he said, adding that alternatives would be even “darker.”

He blamed President Trump for his immediate budget struggles. He said the administration’s tariff decisions and other upheavals have sapped the state of revenue, leaving a $16 billion hole, or about 5%, in the current budget.

He said Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program, has longer-term budget problems that his changes would help solve.

His proposals must be negotiated with the state Legislature, but the rollback marks a symbolic reversal for the governor. In recent years, he oversaw the state’s expansion of Medi-Cal for migrants, using dollars from the state because of prohibitions on coverage under federal funding formulas.

Just last year, Mr. Newsom rebuffed calls to curtail the program, which was estimated to cover about 700,000 residents.

“In California, we believe everyone deserves access to quality, affordable health care coverage regardless of income or immigration status,” he said. “Through this expansion, we’re making sure families and communities across California are healthier, stronger and able to get the care they need when they need it.”

He had defended coverage for low-income illegal immigrants as a money saver. Otherwise, he said, they would flood the state’s emergency rooms, where they cannot be denied care even if they cannot pay.

His new budget contradicts that argument. It shows the state can save $5 billion by blocking new enrollees and charging premiums for those currently enrolled.

Analysts said the expansion to include illegal immigrants cost the state more than anticipated.

Taxpayer benefits for illegal immigrants have long been a red line for many voters. While saying they support some leniency, voters don’t want to be forced to pay the way for those who shouldn’t be in the U.S.

Mr. Newsom called his new stance “pragmatist” and said California is doing more than any other state for illegal immigrants.

He said cuts had to come from somewhere and other choices would be reducing education or child care funding.

“We’re just doing something no other state has done. We just can’t do as much of it as before,” he said.

Mr. Newsom is considering a 2028 presidential bid and is pushing the Democratic Party to broaden its messaging beyond its liberal base.

It marked a dissonant note with Democrats on Capitol Hill, who are sounding defiant tones on immigration and attacking Mr. Trump for policies that have solved the border chaos over the past four years.

That includes chiding Republicans for cuts to Medicaid in their national budget proposals.

Republican officials said some 1.4 million unauthorized immigrants on the rolls should be booted. They said millions more able-bodied beneficiaries should be working rather than collecting welfare-style benefits.

“If even Gavin Newsom sees the problem, what excuse do Washington Democrats have? The American people are sick of footing the bill for those who break our laws while they struggle to make ends meet,” said Mike Marinella, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee.

The dissonance played out on Capitol Hill, where Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appeared for a hearing Wednesday. House Democrats blasted her for the president’s handling of immigration.

“Trump’s will is not the guiding doctrine of this nation. And our country is not a playground for his or your twisted authoritarian fantasies,” said Rep. Delia Ramirez, Illinois Democrat.

She said Ms. Noem was trying to “terrorize families” by promoting self-deportation and accused her of “sick, disrespectful press conferences,” including in Illinois, “where, let me be clear, you are not welcome.”

Ms. Ramirez called on Ms. Noem to resign.

Democrats were particularly angered by Ms. Noem’s refusal to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man who the government says is an MS-13 gang member, a human smuggler and a wife beater who had a valid deportation order, though he wasn’t supposed to be sent to El Salvador in particular.

He was deported anyway in March, and a federal judge, with Democrats’ backing, has ordered that he be brought back to the U.S.

“I’m fighting for due process,” said Rep. Daniel Goldman, New York Democrat.

Ms. Noem said the result was defending a “terrorist,” given that the government has classified MS-13 as a terrorist organization.

“It’s got to be extremely discouraging to be one of your constituents. To see you fight for a terrorist like this, and not fight for them, is extremely alarming to me,” Ms. Noem told Mr. Goldman.

Added Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia Republican: “There’s nothing the Democrats love more than defending the cartels, the criminals and the rapists.”