Leading in Words, Retreating in Action: Our Communities Can’t Continue to Pay the Price
The Governor’s proposed budget fails to protect immigrant communities from federal harm and risks further abandonment of the health equity values California has vowed to lead with.
(Sacramento, CA) — Today, Governor Newsom released his 2026-2027 proposed budget that does not protect Californians from the impacts of the federal government’s harmful anti-immigrant, anti-health agenda, specifically from the destabilizing impacts of H.R. 1 on low-income families and immigrant communities.
California has a history of supporting immigrants across our state, the majority of whom are Latine. However, that commitment is missing from this budget. LCHC urges California to stand up for health equity, health access, and immigrants, including those who are being arbitrarily subjected to new federal restrictions like refugees, and urges innovative funding pathways that favor working-class families.
Additionally, LCHC denounces the state’s approach to subjecting Health4All expansion populations to the new arduous federal eligibility requirements. California offers state-funded Medi-Cal to all Californians regardless of immigration status and can exempt this population from the federal administration’s burdensome requirements that create barriers to maintaining Medi-Cal eligibility. This approach, with the compounded cuts in the form of freezes and premiums from the FY 25-26 budget, further abandons immigrant communities in California who are dealing with unlawful and violent immigration raids.
During yesterday’s State of the State, the Governor painted a picture of a state that is pushing back in the courts, and leading with progress, but today’s budget announcement showed reluctance to truly protect the basic health of the Californians who make California work. This inequitable budget proposal comes at a moment when California stands on a true ‘Healthcare Horizon’—a pivotal inflection point that will determine whether our state’s values extend to all people, regardless of immigration status.
“At this moment, California is at a defining crossroads. We must decide what kind of legacy we are upholding,” said Dr. Seciah Aquino, Executive Director of the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California. “Our communities cannot withstand further health care cuts or barriers, especially as families are already bearing the weight of harmful federal rollbacks, including the chilling effects of H.R. 1. California must do more than simply hold the line, we must step forward with courage to restore Medi-Cal for All and fully protect the safety-net programs that our most vulnerable communities depend on. It is our duty to safeguard those most at risk, and that requires creativity and political will to identify budget solutions that do not endanger the health and well-being of California families. This is a moment to look beyond the immediate crisis and commit to a future where every Californian can thrive.”
LCHC urges the administration to:
- Reverse the Medi-Cal freeze and restore access for all eligible Californians, despite immigration status
- Stop further burdensome state-imposed restrictions on Medi-Cal and safety-net programs eligibility and renewal of benefits
- Protect and expand community-trusted health workforces, including CHWs and Promotoras
- Invest in privacy protections and rebuild trust with immigrant communities, especially across our healthcare systems
- Maintain and strengthen investments in climate resilience and community health infrastructure
With a new budget, our state has the opportunity to mend what was broken and focus existing dollars on key priorities. California can choose whether our legacy will be one of continued leadership in health equity, or whether we will fall short on promises that took decades to build, causing damage that cannot easily be undone. But we can still choose courage and principled leadership to guide us towards a more certain healthcare horizon. We look forward to working with the Governor’s office and the Legislature to protect our communities and craft a budget that truly reflects California’s commitment to health equity.
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About LCHC:
Latino Coalition for a Healthy California (LCHC) is the leading statewide policy organization with a specific emphasis on Latine & Indigenous health. For over 33 years, LCHC has worked on transforming systems to achieve health justice. We pride ourselves in translating community solutions into equitable policy and lasting systemic change. Our work focuses on legislative and administrative advocacy, people power, and narrative change.
