Texas Rep. Pressures New York Governor Over Medicaid Policies for Illegal Immigrants
Texas Representative Wesley Hunt is seeking clarity from New York Governor Kathy Hochul regarding the number of the state’s estimated 670,000 undocumented immigrants who are enrolled in Medicaid benefits.
Hunt (R-Texas) sent a letter to Hochul on Monday, questioning how New York utilizes waivers to allow its Medicaid program to diverge from federal guidelines.
“Governor Hochul is obligated to report this information to federal authorities. Thus, the inquiry is straightforward: Will she comply, or will she continue to protect lawbreakers at the expense of lawful citizens’ healthcare?” Hunt stated in an announcement.
“This reflects the essence of Democrat governance: open borders, benefits for undocumented individuals, and a betrayal of American citizens.”
Approximately 1.4 million individuals "whose citizenship, nationality, or immigration status is unverified" may be receiving Medicaid benefits across various states, according to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office.
Hunt cited a report from the Fiscal Policy Institute, which highlights that around 670,000 undocumented immigrants reside in New York, constituting roughly 4% of the state’s population.
New York has made use of Section 1115 waivers, enabling it to modify and implement Medicaid outside standard federal protocols. This program provides healthcare coverage to approximately 70 million low-income Americans.
Hunt pointed out that the Biden administration had declined to allow similar waivers for states such as South Carolina and Arizona. The Texas Republican emphasized that these waivers were never intended to extend benefits to undocumented immigrants.
“The Biden Administration has both permitted and promoted the use of these 1115 waivers to grant Medicaid access to undocumented immigrants, directly contradicting federal law that prohibits such benefits,” Hunt expressed in his letter to Hochul.
In February, President Trump issued an executive order aimed at ensuring that “no taxpayer-funded benefits go to unqualified aliens,” referencing existing laws like the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, which largely bars illegal immigrants from federal assistance.
Hunt also raised alarms about New York’s Green Light Law, which allows all state residents, irrespective of immigration status, to obtain driver’s licenses.
The Justice Department has challenged this law in court, asserting that it undermines federal immigration enforcement. Hunt contended that it could facilitate access to taxpayer-funded benefits for undocumented individuals.
To address these issues, Hunt is calling on Hochul to examine Medicaid enrollment based on Social Security numbers and to publicly disclose the results.
“New Yorkers are entitled to transparency, accountability, and lawful management of public health initiatives,” Hunt asserted in his correspondence.
“Policies that misallocate limited resources away from eligible individuals not only breach federal regulations but also erode public trust and jeopardize the viability of programs intended to support our most vulnerable populations.”
The Post has reached out to Hochul’s office for a response.
Speculation has emerged in recent weeks regarding Hunt’s potential candidacy for Senator John Cornyn’s (R-Texas) seat in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections.
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