NRCC memo pushes illegal immigrant healthcare shutdown messaging
The article reports that the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) is urging House Republicans to intensify attacks on Democrats by claiming they support providing healthcare funding for illegal immigrants. This messaging strategy has been a key GOP talking point throughout the ongoing government shutdown. The shutdown stems partly from disagreements over extending enhanced Obamacare tax credits, which Democrats want to secure and Republicans oppose, framing the issue as Democrats prioritizing illegal immigrants over American citizens.
The NRCC memo encourages Republicans to portray Democrats as putting “radical ideas ahead of working families” and to emphasize that Democrats voted to “shut down the government” to fund benefits for illegal immigrants. The memo also highlights competitive House districts where Republicans see opportunities in the 2026 midterms, noting the potential impact of the shutdown on constituents, including veterans and participants in nutrition programs.
Republican leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson, argue that Democrats’ funding proposals would expand healthcare access to illegal immigrants, which Democrats deny, citing federal law that prohibits federally subsidized healthcare for illegal immigrants. Democrats contend their proposals aim to restore healthcare access for “lawfully present” immigrants, such as those under DACA or Temporary Protected status.
The GOP accuses the Biden administration of misusing immigration parole and asylum provisions to grant benefits to immigrants improperly. The debate has become a focal point in escalating partisan conflict over government funding, with Democrats pushing a healthcare-centered approach and Republicans demanding a strict spending bill without such provisions.
NRCC pushes Republicans to clobber Democrats over healthcare for illegal immigrants
EXCLUSIVE — House Republicans‘ campaign arm is encouraging members to keep pushing messaging that Democrats want to secure healthcare funding for illegal immigrants, a talking point the GOP has circled around since the start of the government shutdown.
Historically, the party in power has received the most blame for a shutdown, putting the GOP trifecta on defense as they work to combat Democrats’ messaging over enhanced Obamacare tax credits that expire at the end of the year, the extension of which Democrats have made the flashpoint of the government funding battle roiling Capitol Hill.
But the National Republican Congressional Committee said in a memo, shared first with the Washington Examiner, that the GOP can remain on offense with messaging that “Democrats are for illegal immigrants, Republicans are for Americans.”
“Every Democrat who voted to shut down the government just delivered a ransom note
to their districts: pay for handouts to criminal illegal immigrants, or we will hold your
benefits hostage,” the memo states. “Rather than supporting commonsense policies, vulnerable Democrats put their radical ideas ahead of working families.”
The memo also includes a chart of 26 districts considered “in play” for House Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections, and a breakdown of how many people in said districts will be affected by a shutdown. Statistics included are Women Infants and Children nutrition program participants, active duty members, and veterans per district.
The government shutdown is entering its third day after Congress failed to pass a spending deal proposed by the GOP-led House to punt the funding deadline until Nov. 21, to give appropriators more time to negotiate the 12 bills required to fund the government.
Democrats have insisted they will not vote for a bill that does not address the healthcare “crisis” occurring in the United States. But Republicans are pushing a take-it-or-leave-it approach on the Democrats, arguing that they cannot hold the government “hostage” to get their demands met.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), as well as other members of GOP leadership, have made the argument that Democrats’ continuing resolution proposal will provide healthcare to illegal immigrants as the focal point of their messaging campaign. The NRCC put out an ad on Wednesday that said, “Democrats shut down the government…all because Democrats choose handouts for illegal immigrants over Americans!”
The Democrats’ proposal, which has failed on the Senate floor numerous times, rolls back Medicaid cuts from the “big, beautiful bill” passed in July and permanently extends expiring Obamacare subsidies, among other priorities. The GOP bill also prohibited the 1.4 million “lawfully present” immigrants in the U.S. — such as those under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, people under Temporary Protected Status, and refugees/those seeking asylum — from accessing the healthcare programs.
Democrats have argued that illegal immigrants cannot receive federally subsidized healthcare, pointing to a U.S. law from 1996. In their CR proposal, they want to restore access for the lawfully present immigrants.
“Republicans want to rip health care away from Americans,” said Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Viet Shelton. “Democrats are fighting to make it affordable. It’s that simple. House Republicans know they’ve already lost the argument and the American people — so they lie. But no one is buying their bullsh*t.”
But Republicans have argued that the Biden administration abused the immigration parole system, as well as granted asylum and refugee status to immigrants who should not have received it. They’ve also pointed to a section of the “big, beautiful bill,” called “Alien Medicaid eligibility,” that the Democrats are seeking to repeal, which sets the new limitations on healthcare access for lawfully present immigrants.
JOHNSON WON’T NEGOTIATE ON CR AND BLAMES SCHUMER FOR IMPENDING LAYOFFS
“President Biden intentionally opened the border — and Kamala Harris — for four straight years,” Johnson said during a press conference on Thursday. “And you know what, they granted them all asylum, they gave them all this parole status, so they could get rolled onto taxpayer benefits.”
“We’ve all been funding that. Republicans said, no, that does not comport with common sense,” Johnson added. “We’re gonna do right by Americans and not everybody else. We’re not going to incentivize illegal immigration.
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