Vulnerable Americans may lose critical assistance as Congress considers deep cuts to social programs to fund expensive and cruel immigration enforcement that will separate families in the unfortunately named “Big Beautiful Bill.” Our senators must oppose this bill. Not only will it cost human lives, but it perpetuates harmful narratives about Latinos and immigrants that are false and dangerous.
If the bill is passed, millions of Illinois children and families could lose their health care over the next 10 years. Without Medicaid, people will forgo care, end up in emergency rooms or worse. Around a fifth of Illinois residents covered by Medicaid are Latino, over half being children. Latinos also have the highest rates of being uninsured — a fact especially true for children with foreign-born parents.
Like Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP food assistance, is a lifeline for millions. The proposed $300 billion reduction is expected to result in partial or total loss of coverage for almost 2 million Black and Latino families in Illinois.
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This bill will instead fund deportations, detention and miles of border wall, which will cost about $150 billion — almost as much as the U.S. spent between 1986 and 2012. House Republicans claim that this will ensure “more money is put back into hardworking Americans’ wallets … by ending taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal immigrants.” These sentiments build on an American tradition of lying and exaggerating to scapegoat minority and immigrant communities to cut vital benefits in the 1970s and beyond.
Congressional Republicans want to mandate work requirements for SNAP and Medicaid, but 92% of adults under 65 on Medicaid are already working. And Latinos work more than any other racial or ethnic group, with a workforce participation rate of 80% for men and 63% for women, and in industries that offer fewer benefits and protections. Work requirements do more harm and push people into even worse financial situations and perpetuate stereotypes.
Plus, undocumented immigrants already are ineligible for most federal benefits, despite paying billions in local, state and federal taxes per year. There is virtually zero evidence that “millions” of undocumented immigrants are receiving Medicaid or SNAP.
Cutting programs like Medicaid and SNAP to overfund immigration enforcement hurts the whole of low-income Americans and directly attacks Latino communities with racially targeted language. Should Americans sacrifice their family’s health and well-being for mere politics? We don’t think so.
Nina Sedeño, senior immigration policy analyst, and Ruby Velez, civic engagement intern, Latino Policy Forum
Kudos to Chicago police
I want to thank the Chicago police officers who worked the “No Kings” protest over the weekend. I witnessed great patience and forbearance as protesters were given space to be seen and exercise their rights. At the same time, everything I experienced felt safe and peaceful at all times. I expect there will be more protests in the coming months, but I am impressed and encouraged to believe that CPD will be an asset to the citizens of Chicago who need to express themselves this way.
Drew Saunders Palos Park
Forget him
My granddaughter Luella is only a 1½ years old, but I am looking forward to the day when my wife tells Lue, “I was at the ‘No Kings’ protest at Daley Plaza as part of the national anti-Trump movement” and my granddaughter says, “Who’s Trump?”
William Dodd Brown, Lincoln Square