Vance Calls Out Dems for ‘Sleight of Hand’ Trick on Illegal Alien Healthcare
In a video message, Vice President J.D. Vance accused Democrats of using “sleight of hand” in budget talks. He claimed their primary demand to end the government shutdown is restoring taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal immigrants, contradicting their public statements.
Vance asserted the legislative text reveals two specific ways Democrats aim to achieve this. The first is by reinstating a Biden-era program that reimburses hospitals for treating undocumented immigrants, which he stated costs hundreds of billions of dollars.
The second involves parole programs that, under the Biden administration, allowed migrants to enter and subsequently qualify for public health benefits. Vance stated the Trump administration had already terminated both of these initiatives.
Framing the situation as a hostage crisis, Vance argued Democrats are holding government funding and military paychecks ransom. He insisted Republicans will not negotiate under these conditions and called for a clean funding bill to reopen the government first.
The dispute intensified when CNN’s Jake Tapper challenged House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on the provisions. Tapper pointed to text in the Democratic proposal that restores Medicaid for undocumented immigrants and extends benefits to asylum seekers.
Vance emphasized that the provisions are explicitly in the Democrats’ bill, calling them a matter of legislative text, not just a talking point. He also questioned the urgency, noting one key healthcare program does not expire for several months.
The White House and GOP leaders agree that health care policy should be debated separately after the government reopens. The ongoing shutdown has forced federal workers, including law enforcement, to work without pay.
