• Recent polls show that a majority of Californians support extending Medicaid benefits to undocumented immigrants.
• California's expansion of Medi-Cal to undocumented residents has led to significant health improvements.
• Potential federal Medicaid cuts could jeopardize California's healthcare coverage for undocumented immigrants.

Recent polls indicate that a majority of Californians support providing healthcare to undocumented immigrants, contrasting with the federal government's stance on immigration. California has been expanding Medi-Cal coverage to undocumented residents since 2016, witnessing positive health outcomes. However, potential federal Medicaid cuts pose a threat to these expansions, as the state currently covers 1.6 million undocumented immigrants, costing $2.7 billion more than budgeted. The debate over healthcare access for undocumented immigrants is intensifying amid budget constraints and national attention on immigration.

• What: Polls reveal strong support in California for providing healthcare access to undocumented immigrants, despite potential federal funding cuts to Medicaid.
• Who: Key individuals involved include Gov. Gavin Newsom, Miguel Santana (California Community Foundation), Ana Lie Álvarez (Health Access California), Monica Saucedo and Adriana Ramos-Yamamoto (California Budget & Policy Center), and Gerald Kominski (UCLA Center for Health Policy Research). Key organizations include the California Community Foundation, POLITICO-UC Berkeley Citron Center, Health Access California, and California Budget & Policy Center.
• When: The polls were conducted in March 2024. Expansions to Medi-Cal eligibility for undocumented immigrants occurred incrementally since 2016, with full expansion in early 2024. The revised budget is expected in May. The House passed a budget resolution in January.
• Where: The focus is on California, with attention to state policies and federal actions impacting healthcare access.

The article highlights the tension between California's progressive healthcare policies for undocumented immigrants and the potential threat posed by federal budget cuts. The polls demonstrate a disconnect between Californian public opinion and national rhetoric on immigration. Expanding Medi-Cal has improved health outcomes for undocumented residents, but financial pressures and federal actions could reverse these gains. The article suggests that cutting Medicaid to offset tax cuts is misguided and that unity against federal cuts is needed.

There’s a disconnect between the dominant narrative and reality. Efforts to do mass deportations, to deny immigrants services, to marginalize them further, are out of step with how Californians think about these issues.

When people don’t have access to health coverage or health insurance, they are more likely to skip or delay their care, which is really harmful to their overall health.

My hope is that we are able to preserve these health-for-all expansions because the need is not going to go away. It doesn’t matter if there’s a difficult budget or other things going on. It doesn’t change the fact that people need and deserve [health care].

California faces a crucial decision regarding healthcare for undocumented immigrants. Despite strong public support and positive health outcomes resulting from expanded Medi-Cal coverage, potential federal budget cuts threaten these gains. The state's ability to maintain its progressive policies hinges on navigating financial pressures and resisting federal actions that could disproportionately impact vulnerable populations. The debate highlights the ongoing struggle between state and federal priorities regarding immigration and healthcare.