June 16, 2026
Los Angeles, Calif. (June 16, 2026) — Today, the California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC) issued the following statement regarding the 2026-27 state budget passed last night by the Legislature:
“At a moment when the federal government is actively dismantling the safety net for immigrant families, California’s Legislature has chosen a different path — one that protects health care, legal support, and food access for many of the people who need it most. We are encouraged by the support for immigrant communities in this budget, and clear-eyed about the work that remains.
“On health care, the Legislature has delayed some of the worst cuts facing immigrant Californians. Full-scope Medi-Cal for asylees, refugees, and survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking is extended through this fiscal year, with a commitment to maintain eligibility beyond that. Dental benefit eliminations and clinic payment reductions set to take effect July 1 have been pushed to July 2027, and premium increases for certain immigrant Californians have been stayed until 2027.
“These delays matter — they keep families covered while we keep fighting. But let us be honest: they are delays, not solutions. The threat to immigrant health care has been pushed to next year’s budget and to the incoming governor, and we intend to be at that table.
“We must also be clear about what this budget does not address. The Medi-Cal enrollment freeze continues to lock tens of thousands of undocumented Californians out of coverage — and no amount of delay language changes that reality. California cannot claim a commitment to universal health care while drawing lines around who deserves it based on where they were born.
“We are watching several pieces of this budget closely. The transition of certain immigrant Californians from Medi-Cal managed care to fee-for-service — even with CalAIM benefits and continuity of care protections preserved — raises real concerns about disruption for the most medically complex patients. We will press the administration to seriously pursue alternatives before moving forward. The restoration of the Medi-Cal asset test, delayed to July 2027 and set at $21,000 rather than the Governor’s proposed $2,000, is a partial protection — and we will hold the Legislature to its commitment to work toward a higher threshold next year.
“On immigration legal services, the Legislature’s budget includes $175 million for legal aid to support removal defense, unaccompanied children, and due process for immigrants statewide, including in rural communities that have long been underserved. We applaud the Assembly for proposing an additional $100 million for legal services, and the Senate for adopting it. We urge the administration and Legislature to ensure these funds reach the ground quickly and equitably.
“On food security, the budget protects funding to expand the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to immigrants excluded from CalFresh and others impacted by H.R. 1. It includes $100 million for CalFood to support food banks facing surging demand, $180 million above the May Revision for county eligibility workers, and $14 million for outreach — critical investments as H.R. 1’s restrictions take hold.
“We are disappointed that the Legislature’s budget omits funding for the Social Entrepreneurs for Economic Development (SEED) initiative — a proven program offering training, technical assistance, and micro-grants to help individuals start businesses or form worker cooperatives. As the federal administration has stripped work authorization from hundreds of thousands of immigrant workers, the need for SEED has only grown. We call on the Legislature and Governor to invest $45 million in SEED over the next two years.
“California has built an immigrant-inclusive safety net worth protecting. This budget takes real steps to defend it. We call on Gov. Newsom to sign a final budget that keeps these protections intact, and the Legislature to convert these delays into permanent protections. There is no health care for all when birthplace determines who gets care — and immigrants cannot continue to be the first ones asked to shoulder the burden every time California faces a difficult budget year.”
— Masih Fouladi, Executive Director, California Immigrant Policy Center
###