(The Center Square) – Congressman Kevin Kiley, R-California, has introduced a bill that would prevent states such as California from allowing illegal immigrants to enroll in Medicaid. Kiley estimates this would save California $6.5 billion per year; in January 2024, the state expanded Medicaid enrollment to include all illegal immigrants.

“This common sense legislation ensures that taxpayer-funded healthcare benefits are preserved for those who lawfully qualify, prioritizing the needs of American citizens and legal residents while promoting fairness and fiscal responsibility,” Kiley said in a statement on the bill. 

Kiley also noted that many Americans enrolled in Medicaid, a taxpayer-funded public healthcare system for low-income individuals, are already struggling to find doctors.

“California is spending $6.5 billion each year providing free health care to everyone here illegally,” Kiley said Kiley X. “Meanwhile, many of our own citizens can’t even get in to see a doctor.”

California, which has sanctuary state laws limiting state and local law enforcement agencies from actively assisting federal immigration officials, is currently in a special session called by Gov. Gavin Newsom to “Trump-proof” the state, chiefly by providing $25 million for state and local lawsuits against the Trump administration, and another $25 million for legal aid, largely for deportation defense. 

California is home to approximately 2.7 million illegal immigrants, andfiled a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s executive order ending birthright citizenship for children born to illegal immigrants. A preliminary injunction against the order is now in effect until the matter can be fully adjudicated in court.