JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Mississippi taxpayers spent over $10.5 million on Medicaid for illegal aliens from the federal fiscal year 2023 to 2025, according to a report from the State Auditor\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n
State Auditor Shad White said that the funds weren\u2019t allocated properly.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf this money had gone to benefit lawful citizens, it could have reduced our taxes, paid our teachers, paid our police officers\u2014frankly, anything would be better than serving as a magnet for illegal immigrants to come to the United States,\u201d said White.<\/p>\n
Federal law requires hospitals to provide emergency services regardless of immigration status. Still, it also requires states to report how much taxpayer money is spent providing these medical services to illegal immigrants. <\/p>\n
However, the Mississippi Department of Medicaid did not report spending on illegal immigrants to the federal government until after the State Auditor\u2019s Office released a 2024 report on the taxpayer cost of illegal immigration, according to a release.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe only answer here is to have a federal government continue to do exactly what the Trump Administration is doing, which is close our borders and enforce our immigration laws,\u201d said White. \u201cIn addition, I pushed hard for a new law to make illegal immigration a state crime, and that bill passed this year, which will also help.\u201d<\/p>\n
After identifying Medicaid\u2019s shortcomings in the 2024 report, White commissioned a follow-up analysis to determine why Mississippi\u2019s Medicaid program had never reported spending on illegal immigrants. <\/p>\n
As a result of this work, the Mississippi Division of Medicaid (DOM) identified over $10.5 million spent on providing Medicaid for illegal immigrants over three fiscal years.<\/p>\n
\u201cMississippi taxpayers deserve to know the cost of illegal immigrants in our state,\u201d said White, \u201ceven if it makes some folks uncomfortable. My team will always tell you how your money is being spent, warts and all.\u201d<\/p>\n
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