CIPC Calls on State Leaders to Advance an Equitable Budget for All Californians

Sacramento (Jan. 10, 2024) – The California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC) applauded Gov. Gavin Newsom’s continued commitment to providing full-scope Medi-Cal coverage to all income-eligible Californians, regardless of immigration status, in his budget proposal and called on state leaders to use all tools available to advance an equitable budget for all. 

“The governor’s commitment to Medi-Cal coverage makes it clear: investments in equity and inclusion create a better future for all Californians,” CIPC Executive Director Masih Fouladi said. “That approach should be extended to protect immigrant people and families, addressing urgent needs at the border, bringing our state closer to universal health coverage, ensuring food security, and creating an inclusive safety net.” 

CIPC, with its partners, will continue to advocate to: 

• Ensure legal representation for all: CIPC is deeply concerned that the budget proposal reduces critical immigration legal services funding by $15.3 million for people with Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and students and families at California State universities. Lawmakers must also end exclusions that deny services for immigrants who have had contact with the criminal legal system in the past. Publicly funded legal services are a lifeline for immigrant families, especially when the federal government is threatening to ramp up mass detentions and deportations and further constrain our asylum system.

• Finish the job of ensuring health coverage for all: The majority of Californians support access to health care for all, regardless of immigration status, yet more than a half million people living in the state are not eligible for Medi-Cal and remain excluded from health care, simply due to where they were born. California can get closer to universal coverage by ending immigrant exclusions in Covered California’s health insurance marketplace.

• Ensure access to food for all: CIPC is pleased that the proposed budget continues existing commitments to expand access to food assistance for Californians aged 55 and over, regardless of immigration status. Nearly half of undocumented Californians and two out of every three undocumented children are affected by food insecurity. In order to address these disparities, we call on the governor and the legislature to include food assistance for immigrant Californians aged 54 and below. There should be no exceptions, no exclusions, no delays.