Overview

• At Friday's briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt declined to answer a direct question about ER treatment of undocumented patients and instead faulted President Biden and Democrats.
• Leavitt alleged that Temporary Protected Status recipients were granted “free” medical benefits, a claim contradicted by program rules that do not provide Medicaid or similar federal benefits.
• Hospital emergency departments triage based on clinical severity under federal law, and reporting cited research showing undocumented immigrants use ERs at lower rates than U.S. citizens.
• Her remarks followed Vice President JD Vance introducing the claim earlier in the week that undocumented immigrants are receiving free care and causing long waits.
• Leavitt linked the issue to the ongoing funding fight, referencing a Senate vote that failed as Speaker Mike Johnson said he would not allow a Senate compromise bill to reach the House floor.