{"id":2151648,"date":"2024-01-17T14:00:01","date_gmt":"2024-01-17T19:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/blackburn-questions-veterans-affairs-over-illegal-immigrant-use-of-agency-resources\/"},"modified":"2024-01-17T14:04:50","modified_gmt":"2024-01-17T19:04:50","slug":"blackburn-questions-veterans-affairs-over-illegal-immigrant-use-of-agency-resources","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/blackburn-questions-veterans-affairs-over-illegal-immigrant-use-of-agency-resources\/","title":{"rendered":"Blackburn queries VA on unauthorized immigrant utilization of agency resources"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fblackburn-questions-veterans-affairs-over-illegal-immigrant-use-of-agency-resources%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2151648&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Sen.\u2062 Marsha Blackburn Urges \u200dDepartment of Veterans Affairs to Prioritize Veterans&#8217; Healthcare<\/h2>\n<p>In an exclusive\u200d letter sent to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Senator Marsha\u2063 Blackburn (R-TN)\u2062 has raised concerns about the allocation \u2064of resources for \u2062the \u2062healthcare of illegal immigrants.\u200b The\u2064 VA has an agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement \u200c(ICE) to\u200b process\u2062 medical claims\u200c on their behalf, with ICE covering the costs. However, Senator \u200bBlackburn questions whether the agency verifies citizenship status\u2063 before approving healthcare \u2062benefits for veterans and whether the \u200bBiden administration has issued any directives regarding \u2062medical care for migrants.<\/p>\n<p>Citing \u2064a Department of Homeland Security \u2063report,\u200c Blackburn highlights that ICE spent\u2062 over\u200c $373.5\u200d million on healthcare for detained\u2062 noncitizens in fiscal\u200c year 2022. \u200dThe\u2062 report also reveals that\u2064 the ICE Health Service Corps monitored the healthcare of 120,500 illegal immigrants\u200b across 163 \u2062facilities, utilizing more than 41,500 beds.\u2064 <\/p>\n<p>Blackburn emphasizes that while the VA is contracted to assist the IHSC, veterans and their families face extensive \u2063waiting times for their claims to be processed. The VA&#8217;s\u2062 claims backlog has skyrocketed from under 100,000 in 2019 to over 400,000 by\u2062 the end of 2023.<\/p>\n<p>Expressing\u200c her \u200bconcern, Senator Blackburn states,\u2062 &#8220;The VA \u200bwas\u200b created to support\u2063 those who have served \u200dand protected \u200cthis \u2063nation, and now senior VA officials have\u200b seemingly \u200bplaced these veterans \u2064on a tier below\u2063 the flood of illegal immigrants\u2063 that\u200b are crossing our porous border.&#8221; She deems the use of VA resources for \u2063illegal immigrants as &#8220;unacceptable&#8221; and calls for an immediate \u2064halt to the allocation \u200cof resources for their care and claims.<\/p>\n<p>In response to these allegations, VA \u2064press secretary Terrence\u200b Hayes clarifies that\u2062 no VA resources are used\u2063 to provide healthcare to\u2062 ICE detainees. He explains that a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tuberville-bill-targeting-illegal-immigrant-use-of-va-resources-gains-traction\/\" title=\"Tuberville's bill to curb illegal immigrant use of VA resources gains support\">payment processing agreement<\/a> has been in place since 2002, in which ICE pays for the VA&#8217;s Financial Service Center to process payments\u2064 for ICE-funded healthcare. Hayes assures\u2062 that this agreement has \u200dno impact on veteran care or\u2064 services.<\/p>\n<p>Senator \u200dBlackburn has given Secretary Denis McDonough a deadline of \u2063January\u200b 26 to respond to her \u2064letter. She also \u200drequests clarification\u2063 on the contract between\u2064 the VA and the IHSC, as well\u2063 as \u2064the amount of funding designated for the healthcare of ICE detainees.<\/p>\n<p>Senator Blackburn has recently co-sponsored the No VA Resources\u200c for Illegal Aliens Act, alongside Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL). This legislation aims\u2064 to \u200dend the VA&#8217;s\u200d provision of medical \u200dclaims \u2062processing services to the IHSC. A similar bill has been introduced in the House by Veterans \u200cAffairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost (R-IL).<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> Are \u200cthere measures in place\u200c to ensure that \u2062the \u200cVA&#8217;s agreement with ICE for processing medical claims on behalf of illegal immigrants \u200ddoes not \u2062negatively impact the healthcare services available to\u2064 veterans<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Iscal year\u2063 2020. This <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sam-brinton-was-on-taxpayer-funded-trip-when-the-official-allegedly-stole-luggage-watchdog\/\" title=\"Watchdog claims official stole luggage from Sam Brinton during taxpayer-funded trip.\">raises \u2064concerns<\/a> \u200cover \u2062the \u2064allocation of resources for \u200bveterans&#8217; healthcare, especially considering the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kaiser-permanente-workers-demand-more-staff-higher-pay-in-historic-strike\/\" title=\"Kaiser Permanente employees strike for better pay and increased staffing.\">long \u200bwait \u2063times<\/a>\u200c and insufficient\u2062 care that many \u2064veterans are currently facing.<\/p>\n<p>Senator Blackburn has \u2063been a vocal advocate for\u200d veterans&#8217; rights and has \u200cconsistently pushed for policies that prioritize their healthcare needs.\u200d In her letter,\u2062 she emphasizes the importance of\u200d verifying citizenship status before approving healthcare benefits for \u200dveterans. This is not only crucial \u2063for \u2063ensuring that resources\u2062 are allocated appropriately but also for upholding the integrity of\u200c the VA\u200c system.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, Senator Blackburn seeks clarification on whether \u2064the Biden administration has issued any directives regarding medical \u200ccare for migrants. It\u200d is essential \u2064to have\u2062 transparency and \u2064clear\u200b guidance on \u2063this matter, as\u2064 it directly \u2064impacts\u200d the \u2062availability and quality of \u200dhealthcare services for our \u200bnation&#8217;s veterans.<\/p>\n<p>The VA&#8217;s agreement with ICE, wherein the agency \u200dprocesses medical claims on behalf of illegal immigrants, is a matter of concern. While it is vital to provide medical\u2062 care \u2062to those in need, resources must be properly managed to ensure that veterans are not negatively impacted. As the VA faces ongoing challenges in delivering timely\u200d and effective\u200c healthcare to veterans, \u200cit is\u200d crucial to prioritize their needs and streamline the allocation\u200b of resources.<\/p>\n<p>Senator Blackburn&#8217;s efforts to address this issue deserve recognition. By questioning the allocation\u2062 of resources for healthcare, she highlights the necessity \u2064of ensuring\u200c that\u200d veterans receive the care they rightfully\u200c deserve. She is\u2064 a true advocate for veterans, actively working towards safeguarding their interests and\u2062 improving \u200dtheir access \u200bto quality healthcare.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, Senator Marsha Blackburn&#8217;s\u2063 letter to the Department\u200c of Veterans Affairs raises important concerns about\u2062 the allocation \u200cof\u200b resources for veterans&#8217; healthcare. By questioning the verification of\u200b citizenship status\u2062 and the directives regarding medical care for migrants, she underscores \u200bthe need to prioritize veterans&#8217; needs. As\u2063 the VA faces challenges in meeting the \u200chealthcare demands of our veterans, it \u200dis crucial for the agency and the Biden administration to\u2063 address these concerns\u2062 and take appropriate\u200c action. Our veterans have \u2062served our nation with\u200c honor, and it is\u2062 our duty to ensure their health and well-being.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) wrote to the Department of Veterans Affairs, questioning its allocation of resources for healthcare of illegal immigrants. The VA collaborates with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to handle medical claims, but the senator seeks clarification on the agency&#8217;s priorities<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2641,"featured_media":2151649,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2151648","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2151648","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2641"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2151648"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2151648\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2151649"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2151648"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2151648"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2151648"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}