Periodically, the Latinx Files will feature guest writers. Filling in this week is De Los reporter Andrea Flores.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, the GOP-led House approved<\/a> the Senate\u2019s version of the \u201cBig Beautiful Bill,\u201d the Trump administration\u2019s domestic policy measure \u2014 and the measures are as drastic as its mammoth title seems to indicate. Nearly 1,000 pages long, the legislation grants tax cuts to the top 1% of U.S. households at the cost of healthcare, food and utilities, while also expanding spending for border security, defense and energy production.<\/p>\n A look at the possible repercussions for the 65.2 million Latinos in the United States. <\/p>\n Newsletter <\/p>\n You\u2019re reading Latinx Files <\/p>\n Fidel Martinez delves into the latest stories that capture the multitudes within the American Latinx community.<\/p>\n Enter email address <\/p>\n Sign Me Up <\/p>\n You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. <\/p>\n Immigration<\/p>\n What is happening<\/b>: The bill will provide roughly $150 billion<\/a> for President Trump\u2019s border and national security agenda. This includes $46.5 billion toward the continued construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall. The budget will also allocate $45 billion for immigration detention centers \u2014 which is 62% more than the budget for the entire federal prison system \u2014 and could result in daily detention numbers of at least 116,000 noncitizens, according to the American Immigration Council<\/a>. About $32 billion will go toward immigration enforcement, including for the staffing of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as well as $7 billion for hiring Border Patrol agents and other officers. More than $3 billion will be allocated to the Justice Department to hire more judges and support staff, addressing a backlog of nearly 4 million<\/a> pending cases in immigration court.<\/p>\n The passage of the bill was championed by one of the main architects of Trump\u2019s immigration policy. <\/p>\n \u201cThe BBB will increase by orders of magnitude the scope, scale and speed of removing illegal and criminal aliens from the United States,\u201d White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller boasted on X on Thursday<\/a>. \u201cFor that reason alone, it\u2019s the most essential piece of legislation currently under consideration in the entire Western World, in generations.\u201d<\/p>\n How it might affect <\/b>Latinos<\/b>: ICE enforcement and mass sweeps are expected to ramp up under this new legislation, which could affect 1 in 3 Latinos who are at risk for deportation or family separation, according to an analysis by FWD.us<\/a>. The bill also permits detaining families indefinitely, pending a removal decision.<\/p>\n To help fund the increased spending, the government will also be collecting greater fees from certain noncitizens. For example, those with temporary protected status \u2014 which includes about more than 1 million individuals<\/a>, a majority of whom are from Venezuela, El Salvador and Honduras \u2014 will be required to pay $500 for the application, up from $50.<\/p>\n Healthcare<\/p>\n What is happening<\/b>: To offset some of the tax cuts, the bill will make significant cuts to social services such as Medicaid and Medicare \u2014 not to mention defunding Planned Parenthood clinics for up to one year. <\/p>\n Roughly 78 million adults<\/a> and children are enrolled in Medicaid programs across the country, which benefit low-income individuals, while 24 million people rely on the Affordable Care Act for health insurance. As of June 2024, approximately 6.8 million people in California are enrolled in Medicare, which benefits individuals over the age of 65 and younger adults with disabilities.<\/p>\n Medicaid<\/b>: The megabill will take about $1 trillion from the joint federal and state program for the next 10 years, making this the largest cut to Medicaid in history<\/a>. It will also require childless adults and parents of children older than 13 to work, volunteer or attend school for 80 hours a month as a condition for enrollment of Medicaid (unless they qualify for an exemption). Individuals and families will also be required to prove their eligibility twice a year (instead of once) and some states could charge up to a $35 copay for medical services.<\/p>\n Medicare and the ACA<\/b>: The bill calls for $490 billion in overall cuts<\/a> to Medicare from 2027 to 2034. It will limit immigrant Medicare coverage for green-card holders and other immigrants, as well as premium tax credits. It applies additional limits for individuals using the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare) marketplace, who will be required to update their income, immigration status and other information each year instead of being reenrolled automatically. <\/p>\n How it might affect Latinos<\/b>: The Kaiser Family Foundation indicated that Latinos make up 30%<\/a> of Medicaid enrollees. These new rules are likely to affect most vulnerable groups, including aging foster care youth, veterans and homeless individuals. The Congressional Budget Office estimates<\/a> that 11.8 million more Americans will become uninsured by 2034, which includes the 1.4 million people without verified citizenship, nationality or satisfactory immigration status.<\/p>\n Food assistance<\/p>\n What is happening: <\/b>Those between ages 18 and 65 must show proof of work to qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, unless they have a child under the age of 14 (with few exceptions). The bill will also limit benefits to citizens or lawful permanent residents (with some exceptions).<\/p>\n How it might affect Latinos: <\/b>Latinos make up 23% of SNAP recipients<\/a>. The CBO estimates<\/a> that 3 million people will not qualify for SNAP benefits.<\/p>\n Education<\/p>\n What is happening<\/b>: The Pell Grant, which is awarded only based on exceptional need, will be reduced by nearly 23%<\/a> \u2014 bringing the annual maximum award from $7,395 to $5,710, starting in fall 2026. Access to student loans for grad students will be trickier; the bill establishes a cap of $100,000 in federal loans for prospective master\u2019s students, and $200,000 for doctoral students, medical and professional degrees. The bill will also limit income-driven repayment options for borrowers, which will probably mean higher monthly payments for individuals juggling other financial necessities. <\/p>\n How it might affect Latinos: <\/b>According to Excelencia in Education<\/a>, almost half of all Latino students receive the Pell Grant. Of the Latino students who do take out loans, 18% have defaulted on their student loans, compared with 12% of non-Hispanic white students.<\/p>\n Consider subscribing to the Los Angeles Times<\/p>\n Your support helps us deliver the news that matters most. Become a subscriber<\/a>.<\/p>\n Stories we read this week that we think you should read<\/p>\n Ritchie Valens died too young. His legacy will live on forever<\/b><\/a> <\/p>\n Though he died in a plane crash at 17, Ritchie Valens changed rock \u2018n\u2019 roll and Latin music forever.<\/p>\n Pixar\u2019s \u2018Elio\u2019 reportedly stripped of queer representation after test screenings<\/b><\/a> <\/p>\n The version of \u201cElio\u201d that hit theaters June 20 is not the same movie that Adrian Molina, the film\u2019s original director, intended to put out.<\/p>\n John Leguizamo hits the road again for Season 2 of \u2018Leguizamo Does America\u2019<\/b><\/a> <\/p>\n Premiering Sunday, the travel series hosted by award-winning actor John Leguizamo will spotlight Latino communities in cities across the U.S.<\/p>\n NPR\u2019s Felix Contreras opened minds to Latin alternative music. He\u2019s finally getting his due<\/b><\/a> <\/p>\n Known as \u201cT\u00edo Felix\u201d among friends and colleagues, Contreras will be honored at the Hispanic Heritage Awards in September.<\/p>\n \u2018Under the Same Moon\u2019 director on immigration crackdown: \u2018It\u2019s called fascism\u2019<\/b><\/a> <\/p>\n Filmmaker Patricia Riggen believes a remake of her 2007 film would be far too grim in today\u2019s political landscape.<\/p>\n Adrian Quesada steps into his star power in new LP \u2018Boleros Psicod\u00e9licos II\u2019<\/b><\/a> <\/p>\n \u201cBoleros II\u201d finds Quesada as aurally slick as ever as he tackles the oft-covered romantic Spanish standard \u201cCuatro Vidas,\u201d plus Los Pasteles Verdes\u2019 \u201cHoy Que Llueve\u201d and brand-new tracks \u2014 all while integrating his signature three-over-two rhythms. The Grammy-winning bandleader spoke to De Los ahead of his Grand Performances concert on Aug. 2.<\/p>\n In new indie flick \u2018Ponyboi,\u2019 River Gallo sheds light on an intersex experience<\/b><\/a> <\/p>\n Out June 27 in theaters nationwide, \u201cPonyboi\u201d arrives at a critical time for the queer Latine community.<\/p>\n Almost 50% of Latinos voted for Trump in 2024. Experts have theories<\/b><\/a> <\/p>\n New data from the Pew Research Center show that 48% of Latinos voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, a 12% jump from 2020.<\/p>\n L.A. \u2018under siege\u2019: Brown-skinned people targeted, tackled, taken, and it must stop, federal suit says<\/b><\/a> <\/p>\n A lawsuit filed by immigrant rights groups seeks to block the Trump administration\u2019s \u201congoing pattern and practice of flouting the Constitution and federal law\u201d during immigration raids in the L.A. area.<\/p>\n L.A. activist indicted after handing out face shields to anti-ICE protesters<\/b><\/a> <\/p>\n Alejandro Orellana, 29, faces charges of conspiracy and aiding civil disorder after he handed out protective face shields to people protesting against immigration raids in L.A. last month.<\/p>\n Kidnappers or ICE agents? LAPD grapples with surge in calls from concerned citizens<\/b><\/a> <\/p>\n Some city and Police Commission leaders have called on the LAPD to do more to identify masked individuals who are taking part in immigration sweeps.<\/p>\n