Senator Bill Cassidy, R-LA, introduced on Thursday a bill that would prevent states from using federal funds to subsidise state programs providing health care to illegal immigrants.

The “Protect Medicaid Act” would prohibit federal Medicaid from “funding administrative costs for providing health benefits to individuals that are unauthorized migrants.” Marsha Blackburn, R-TN, John Barrasso, R-WY and Roger Wicker are co-sponsors of the legislation.

According to Cassidy’s office, “the bill prohibits federal money being spent to administer state Medicaid benefits paid by American citizens for noncitizens.” The bill makes sure that if a state decides to provide Medicaid benefits to illegal immigrants, it does so on its own dime and without cost to other states.

California is expanding its Medicaid program in order to provide free healthcare for 700,000 illegal migrants. The state is expected to spend more than $3 billion on the expansion. Oregon also has a program of this type.

Cassidy stated that “Medicaid is a magnet to attract more illegal immigration.” “This is a terrible policy for Californians who rely on Medicaid and middle-class families that pay taxes. It also increases the state’s debt. Priority should be given to the most vulnerable Americans. It is neither possible nor feasible to try to provide free health care for everyone in the world. “Compassion that can’t be sustained isn’t compassion.”

The bill also requires that the Inspector General for the Department of Health Care and Human Services prepare a report about states that provide health care to illegal immigrants.

The report would include “a description of the States’ methods for financing State programs which provide health benefits to noncitizens ineligible due to their immigration status. This includes the increased use provider taxes and intergovernmental transfer to finance the nonfederal share of expenditures for the State Medicaid Program for medical assistance provided by individuals who aren’t so ineligible.”

Blackburn claimed that state-funded health care programs for illegal immigrants are unfair and endanger the health of Americans.

She said that Tennesseeans and Americans do not want to see their tax dollars used to subsidise Medicaid for illegal immigrants. It is not only unfair to citizens but also encourages illegal immigration. The care of millions of Americans will be put on hold.

The bill comes at a time when the southern border of the United States has seen a massive influx of illegal immigrants. Border Patrol reported a record-breaking 300,000 encounters with foreign nationals in December. Last year, a report estimated that illegal immigration would cost American taxpayers $451 billion.