State was among the first in the US to extend free healthcare benefits to all poor adults regardless of immigration status
The California governor, Gavin Newsom, wants his state to stop enrolling more low-income immigrants without legal status in a state-funded healthcare program starting in 2026 and begin charging those already enrolled a monthly premium the following year.
The decision is driven by a higher-than-expected price tag on the program and economic uncertainty from federal tariff policies, Newsom said in a Wednesday announcement. The Democratic governor’s move highlights his struggle to protect his liberal policy priorities amid budget challenges in his final years on the job.
