Dem Rep Loses It On CNN When Called Out Over Illegal Alien Healthcare [WATCH]

Republican Rep. Buddy Carter of Georgia and Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan engaged in a heated exchange Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union over whether federal funds are being used to provide healthcare for illegal immigrants amid the ongoing government shutdown.

Since the shutdown began Wednesday, Democrats have denied Republican claims that they are blocking a GOP-led spending bill in order to extend healthcare coverage to illegal aliens.

Citing a Washington Post poll that showed 47% of voters blame congressional Republicans for the shutdown, CNN host Jake Tapper asked Carter to respond to criticism that the GOP bears more responsibility.

“Well, and they shouldn’t be, because this is clearly the ‘Schumer Shutdown,’” Carter said.

“This is a shutdown that the Democrats instigated, all in the name of trying to get healthcare for illegals.”

Carter went on to defend his party’s position, referring to a provision in the Working Families Tax Act.

“If you say they’re not trying to do that, that is erroneous,” he said.

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“They are wanting to reverse what we did in the Working Families Tax Act. What we did was to make sure that illegals are not going to get Medicaid — ” he added before Tapper interrupted to clarify that Medicaid eligibility for illegal immigrants is limited to emergencies.

Carter agreed, but Dingell challenged him directly.

“If someone’s dying, they shouldn’t be able to get medical care. Is that what we’re saying?” Dingell asked.

“The only thing it allows is if someone is in bad shape and they go to an emergency room, but they are not covered by Medicaid, they are not covered by Medicare already in the law.”

Under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), signed into law in 1986 during the Reagan administration, hospitals that accept Medicare are required to provide emergency medical care regardless of a patient’s ability to pay or immigration status.

“The Supreme Court has already ruled on that, and we know we have to do that,” Carter replied.

“But the point here is you’re trying to reverse what we did — ” he said, before Dingell again interrupted.

“It’s a Sunday!” Dingell responded.

“What does the Bible teach us? ‘When I was sick, you took care of me.’ You’re going to deny someone dying health care?”

“No, we can’t do that. The Supreme Court has ruled on that,” Carter said, reiterating his position.

Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, have argued that Democrats’ proposed continuing resolution contains language that effectively restores access to healthcare benefits for illegal aliens.

Johnson, appearing Wednesday on Fox News’s Special Report with Bret Baier, urged viewers to “check page 57 of Chuck Schumer’s bill and look at section 2141.”

Section 2141, titled “REPEAL OF HEALTH SUBTITLE CHANGES,” seeks to repeal language from Title VII, Section B of a prior measure that restricts “Alien Medicaid eligibility” under Section 71109 — a clause Republicans say prevents federal funding for illegal immigrant healthcare.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has rejected the GOP’s claims, calling them “false,” but several conservative commentators have pointed to examples at the state level showing overlap between state and federal funding.

Fox News host Kennedy noted that in California, where Medi-Cal has been extended to illegal immigrants, “the federal government does [fund a portion], because Medi-Cal is funded by Medicaid.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, requested $2.8 billion from state lawmakers in March to help sustain Medi-Cal’s expansion, after his administration had already borrowed $3.4 billion to cover program expenses.

Federal officials under the Trump administration have monitored Medicaid enrollment data for potential violations of federal eligibility law.

In June 2025, deportation officers were provided with data identifying millions of Medicaid enrollees in areas that allow illegal immigrants to participate in local healthcare programs, including California, Washington, D.C., Illinois, and Washington state.

While the political debate continues, both parties have held their ground.

Republicans argue that the proposed legislation reopens the door for illegal aliens to access taxpayer-funded benefits, while Democrats insist the language simply maintains emergency care protections already required by federal law.