Republicans accuse Democrats of seeking "free healthcare" for undocumented immigrants, a claim Democrats deny. The dispute centers on a provision in a Democratic funding proposal that would reverse cuts to Medicaid eligibility for noncitizens made by the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." Democrats state their proposal would only restore coverage for immigrants with some legal status or government permission, not those in the U.S. illegally, and that federal law prohibits such coverage. The debate is a key point of contention in ongoing government shutdown negotiations.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.