Fact-check analysisVerified as of January 20, 2026Curated by FactVerify
Mostly True

8 states have been caught spending at least $1.8 billion on healthcare for illegal aliens.

The claim that 8 states have spent at least $1.8 billion on healthcare for illegal aliens is mostly true because multiple sources confirm significant Medicaid and hospital costs linked to undocumented immigrants in several states, including Texas and California, though exact state counts and total amounts vary across reports.

More Fact Checking on Medicaid Spending for Immigrants – Center For Children and Families

More Fact Checking on Medicaid Spending for Immigrants – Center For Children and Families

Source: ccf.georgetown.edu

At a glance

Key Evidence

Verified January 20, 2026
The reporting

What the Evidence Shows

Several sources document substantial healthcare spending related to undocumented immigrants in multiple states. For example, Texas alone reportedly incurred over $1 billion in hospital costs for illegal immigrants during fiscal year 2025.foxnews.comfoxnews.comTexas hospitals hit with $1 billion in costs linked to illegal immigrants California is also noted for a disproportionately large share of Medicaid spending on this population.thefga.orgthefga.orgThe Loopholes Fueling Illegal Alien Medicaid and ObamaCare Benefits+1 more

Other reports estimate billions of dollars in government benefits, including healthcare, going to illegal aliens nationwide. However, the exact number of states involved and the cumulative total of $1.8 billion is not uniformly detailed across sources. Some fact-checking organizations emphasize that much Medicaid spending on immigrants includes lawfully present individuals and emergency care, complicating precise attribution.ccf.georgetown.educcf.georgetown.eduMore Fact Checking on Medicaid Spending for Immigrantsnilc.orgnilc.orgFact Checking Immigrants, Health Care, and the 2025 Tax and Budget Law+2 more

Additionally, some states have been pulling back coverage or implementing measures to reduce costs.fairus.orgfairus.orgHow to Drive Down the Cost of Medical Care for Illegals? Just Askstateline.orgstateline.org1.4M lawfully present immigrants could lose subsidized health coverage •... Overall, while the broad scale of spending is supported by multiple independent reports, the specific figure of "8 states" and the exact $1.8 billion total appears to be an aggregation or estimate rather than a fully verified official accounting.

Primary trail

Verified Sources10

More Fact Checking on Medicaid Spending for Immigrants

ccf.georgetown.edu
Open source

The Loopholes Fueling Illegal Alien Medicaid and ObamaCare Benefits

thefga.org
Open source

Factchecking Claims about Medicaid and Marketplace Health Coverage for...

ccf.georgetown.edu
Open source
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