DHS blasts Newsom over taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegals as California ambulance costs may soar 382%

By Fox News · Fox News

EXCLUSIVE: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is pointing to new data from the state of California that shows the cost of taxpayer-funded ambulance transport potentially rising by 383%. The Trump administration is using the shocking statistic to further blast Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom for providing healthcare services through state-funded Medi-Cal and federally funded Medicaid to illegal immigrants. DHS and the White House have both been critical of illegal migrants receiving healthcare benefits, mainly through emergency services. The topic served as the center of discourse that contributed to the recent government shutdown. "President Trump consistently promised to protect Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News Digital. "To keep that promise after Joe Biden flooded our country with tens of millions of illegal aliens, CMS and DHS are exploring an initiative to ensure that illegal aliens are not receiving Medicaid benefits that are meant for law-abiding Americans." DETAINED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WILL FACE $5K 'APPREHENSION FEE': BORDER PATROL CHIEF "California should understand this principle pretty well by now, since they had to announce they were freezing Medi-Cal enrollment for illegal immigrants earlier this year," McLaughlin added. In May, Newsom announced a plan to freeze new Medi-Cal enrollment for illegal migrants beginning in 2026. The California governor subsequently announced his intention to charge illegal migrants who are already enrolled in the program a premium beginning in July 2027. The far-left state assembly debated some of these measures, but it ultimately passed a budget that reflects Newsom’s changes to Medicaid for undocumented adult Medi-Cal recipients. The California governor originally wanted $100 a month for illegal migrants receiving benefits, but Democrat-led assembly members lowered the premium to just $30. CALIFORNIA LAUNCHES MISCONDUCT PORTAL FOR REPORTING FEDERA…