The U.S. Senate passed a new tax and spending bill early Tuesday that includes provisions imposing stricter limitations on access to public benefits for immigrants with legal status. The legislation expands on similar restrictions previously approved by the House, aiming to further curtail eligibility for health care and other federal support programs.
While the full scope of the Senate bill’s provisions has not yet been publicly disclosed in detail, lawmakers confirm that the measures would reduce or eliminate access to benefits such as Medicaid, food assistance, and other federal aid for certain categories of legal immigrants. These could include asylum seekers, holders of temporary protected status, and legal permanent residents who have not met certain residency or work thresholds.
Proponents of the bill argue that the changes are necessary to reduce federal expenditures and preserve resources for U.S. citizens. However, immigrant rights groups and some public policy experts contend that the legislation unfairly targets vulnerable communities and could lead to negative public health outcomes by denying access to essential medical care.
“This bill would leave many families—who are lawfully present in the United States—without a safety net, even when they meet every other criterion for assistance,” said an immigration policy analyst from a leading think tank. “The long-term societal costs of these cuts could far outweigh the immediate savings.”
The House and Senate will now need to reconcile the differences in their respective bills in conference committee negotiations before a final version is sent to the President for approval.
If the Senate’s stricter provisions are retained in the final legislation, experts warn that thousands of legally present immigrants could be adversely impacted, potentially exacerbating issues of poverty and lack of access to care in immigrant communities across the country.
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