Congress Must Protect Access to Health Care and Place Limits on the Administration’s Inhumane Immigration Enforcement Actions

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Government Shutdown Will Deepen Looming Health Care Crisis and Economic Hardships Across the Nation 

WASHINGTON, DC — UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguía issued the following statement regarding Congress’ inability to keep the federal government open: 

“As the federal government shuts down, our nation faces a looming health care crisis driven by the reckless cuts in the federal budget law passed this year by the Republican majorities in Congress at the direction of the Trump administration. Tens of millions of Americans, including millions of Latinos, count on the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, WIC and other government programs to access affordable health care, put food on the table and take care of their families. We applaud the lawmakers who are fighting to address this crisis and the consequences working families will face.   

“This shutdown comes as communities across the country are voicing their concerns not just about the affordability of health care but also the devastating impact of unlawful immigration enforcement operations and the militarization of communities, like we have already seen in Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Chicago, Memphis and Portland. These tactics are decimating local businesses and economies and indiscriminately harming U.S. citizens and legal residents.  

“Congress must urgently address the Trump administration’s abuse of power and must make sure that any funding package protects access to affordable health care. Now more than ever, families need stability, not a government shutdown and disruptions of critical services.”  

Over the past month, UnidosUS led civil rights and advocacy groups to call on Congress to urgently address the abuse of power and the Trump administration’s mass deportation tactics against American communities. In a letter to lawmakers, a coalition of partners called for immediate action to stop the unlawful deployment of military forces in U.S. cities. In a separate letter, a group of Latino organizations called on lawmakers to adopt critical amendments in the upcoming Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bills to restore accountability in immigration enforcement, protect families and ensure immigration enforcement upholds constitutional rights and due process. 

 

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