Statement on the Inclusion of Mixed-Status Families in MinnesotaCare.

In Minnesota, we have seen the power of neighbors joining together across race, faith, immigration status, and background to create a better life for our families. From ensuring children have full bellies at school, to providing access to quality, life-saving healthcare for all families— no exceptions.

The MinnesotaCare Immigrant Inclusion Act allows mixed-status families to access MinnesotaCare, a low-income healthcare program funded through state dollars. Potential enrollees go through an income and identity verification process to determine eligibility in order to receive care. States like the District of Columbia, Illinois, New York, Oregon, and California have also invested in these life-saving laws.

Lack of health insurance leads to harmful health outcomes, delayed care, and unreimbursed services for healthcare systems. It also increases emergency room wait times for all Minnesotans. Expanding access to MinnesotaCare for all is the most cost-effective and sensible way to close these coverage gaps. It ensures care costs are reimbursed, increases preventative care, and reduces costly emergency visits for preventable illnesses.

By expanding MinnesotaCare, we are not just addressing today’s coverage gaps— we are building a healthier, more resilient Minnesota for the future. This expansion ensures that every family, regardless of race, immigration status, or income, can access the care they need.

We are on a path towards becoming the best state to raise a family, thanks to the leadership of Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan. Working families, policymakers, healthcare providers, and public health experts came together to deliver these life-changing laws across race, class, and immigration status with one objective: to build a healthier Minnesota. We are grateful to Governor Tim Walz, Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, and their teams, for working diligently to create a brighter future for all.  

In 2022, Minnesota’s undocumented community contributed $222 million in local and state taxes. These essential workers are not just contributing to our economy— they are vital to its strength. Expanding MinnesotaCare for low-wage immigrants is a step toward greater equity, and the success of our coalition shows that when we come together, everybody can have the opportunity to build a good life! 

MAGA Republicans are trying to divide us by scapegoating immigrants and low-income families while handing kickbacks to the rich, threatening seniors with cuts to Medicare and Social Security, and attacking our freedoms to be ourselves. Then, they turn around and blame new immigrants for hard times— to the point of tearing families apart and abusing children. We need to join together with people across racial differences to demand fair and safe immigration processes for all families, just like we won civil rights in our past.

When we come together, we can make the United States of America a place that honors all families, no exceptions. As Minnesota is at the center of the electoral debate, our message is loud and clear: every family regardless of where they come from, what they look like, or where they live, deserve to pursue their dreams.