Minnesota’s healthcare program for undocumented immigrants has spiraled past projections, prompting a $100 million budget battle that now threatens to tear apart the state’s legislature.
At a Glance
- Enrollment in MinnesotaCare for undocumented immigrants quadrupled projections, topping 20,000.
- Program costs jumped nearly 30%, doubling the state’s projected healthcare budget to $100 million.
- Lawmakers are split on whether to cut, cap, or defend the program amid fierce political fallout.
- A Republican bill, HF 10, seeks to end undocumented coverage, citing fiscal abuse and immigration incentives.
- Democrats argue canceling the plan risks higher emergency care costs and violates moral obligations.
A Budget Surplus Becomes a Crisis
Minnesota’s attempt to offer free healthcare to undocumented residents has become one of the most explosive political issues of 2025. Originally expected to cover 5,700 people, the program now supports over 20,000—nearly quadrupling enrollment and sending the state’s healthcare tab soaring from $50 million to over $100 million.
The dramatic enrollment spike has sparked calls from Republicans to immediately terminate the initiative. Senator Jordan Rasmusson warned, “This program creates an incentive for illegal immigrants to come here to Minnesota,” while Rep. Isaac Schultz slammed it as “the closest thing you will ever see to treason.”
Watch a report: Lawmakers clash over immigrant healthcare.
Fierce Defense from Democrats and Doctors
Democrats, meanwhile, have vowed to “fight until the very end” to protect the healthcare expansion. Senator Alice Mann rebuked Republican critics as “inhumane,” arguing that cutting access to care would only push people into expensive ER visits—a burden hospitals are now reporting has declined since the policy launched.
Health advocates back her up. “When people are covered… it improves public health,” said Dan Endreson of the Minnesota Council of Health Plans. But with backlash intensifying and budget talks at an impasse, Democrats face rising pressure to rein in spending or risk cuts elsewhere, including long-term care for Medicaid patients.
Immigration, Ideology, and Political Futures
The fallout has national implications. With similar programs facing financial strain in California and Illinois, Minnesota’s struggle has become a symbolic showdown over immigration, entitlement, and fiscal governance.
Republican leaders warn that if Democrats continue funding care for undocumented immigrants, essential services for citizens—like nursing homes and disability support—will face painful cuts. But DFL figures like Sen. Zaynab Mohamed counter that undocumented workers “contribute to our economy… and are taxpayers too.”
Public demonstrations are growing louder, with rallies across the Twin Cities drawing attention to both human need and taxpayer outrage. The issue now looms as a defining wedge in Minnesota’s 2025 political calendar—one likely to shape the state’s identity, priorities, and budget for years to come.
