An investigation by the watchdog group Open the Books has brought to light that since fiscal year 2021, approximately $197 million in federal grants have been allocated to healthcare services and research initiatives that benefit undocumented immigrants. This funding has been distributed across various programs, including both direct medical services and academic studies aimed at enhancing healthcare access and outcomes for these populations.
Open the Books scrutinized federal grant databases, identifying grants explicitly intended for "unauthorized" or "undocumented" individuals. This research indicates that the actual financial support for such programs might surpass the reported figures. Out of the total, about $18 million was designated for scientific and public health research, with several million dollars being granted to prominent universities such as Stanford, UCLA, UC Irvine, and the University of Miami. These institutions are exploring various health-related issues within immigrant communities, from California’s universal basic income pilot's effects on cancer risk to reproductive healthcare access for Asian immigrant women.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has been at the forefront, promoting "health equity" by funding projects intended to eliminate systemic healthcare barriers—aligning with the World Health Organization's definition of health equity as the fair opportunity for all to reach their full health potential without disadvantage. Yet, some critics contend that these government-funded initiatives might inadvertently reallocate resources that could otherwise benefit U.S. citizens.
The majority of the funding, an estimated $185 million, has been channeled through public health services provided by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), mainly the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. These grants have offered medical treatment, counseling, and medications to low-income patients, including 5 to 7 percent who are reported as illegal immigrants. Furthermore, HRSA has supported substance-use disorder and mental health programs that extend to undocumented immigrant communities.
California has received the lion's share of this funding, approximately $65.5 million, with significant allocations also made to Florida and Washington, D.C. This money has predominantly been used for HIV treatment and behavioral health initiatives in regions with high numbers of immigrants, such as Los Angeles County.
According to Open the Books, the estimated $197 million does not account for indirect Medicaid expenses, which are projected at $27 billion from FY 2017–2023, nor does it include educational spending for undocumented children, estimated at $70 billion per year. Since President Donald Trump's inauguration for his second term, around $13 million in new grants have been awarded, coinciding with a marked decrease in border encounters.
The findings from Open the Books have sparked a renewed debate regarding the extent to which federal programs assist unauthorized populations, challenging assertions by Democratic officials that such populations do not benefit from federal funds. As the conversation continues, these revelations may prompt further scrutiny and policy considerations concerning the allocation of taxpayer dollars.
