American Citizens First

Earlier this year, California became the first state to offer free healthcare to immigrants living here illegally. Our state is financially bankrupt, with billions in pension liability. Many of our citizens are hurting here in the District and around the state. In a state with the highest income inequality, the highest cost of living and a failing education system, it is unconscionable that our citizens are not only given fewer benefits than non-citizens, but they are also expected to pick up the tab. Noncitizens deserve ethical and humane treatment, and we need to fix our broken immigration system, but non-citizens do not deserve special treatment solely because they decided federal law didn’t apply to them and came to this country illegally. We need to make sure the needs of our citizens are met before we take responsibility for the problems of the citizens of other countries living here illegally.