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The White House on Monday unveiled a new website listing nearly 150 immigrants who officials say improperly received Medicaid benefits, escalating the battle over federal spending as the government shutdown enters its fourth week.
The site highlights mug shots of 140 individuals identified as illegal immigrants who allegedly received taxpayer-funded health care benefits. At least 15 listed individuals were arrested on murder charges, while nine others were taken into custody on suspicion of sex crimes against children, according to the White House.
Administration officials said the site was created in response to Democratic demands to restore Medicaid coverage expansions that would allow access for more undocumented immigrants.
“Democrats have refused to pass a clean budget bill to end the shutdown unless Republicans concede to their demands for $1.5 trillion in new spending, including restorations to Medicaid expansions that would effectively extend coverage to over 1 million illegal aliens, funneling an additional $200 billion to such programs over the next decade at the expense of U.S. families,” the White House wrote on the site.
The White House said, “This crackdown, driven by executive orders prioritizing public safety and fiscal responsibility, has led to the swift deportation of many individuals convicted of heinous acts, ensuring that precious resources meant for American citizens are no longer diverted to subsidize violent criminals.”
The government has been partially shuttered since Oct. 1 after Senate Democrats blocked repeated attempts to advance a short-term funding bill passed by the House. Senators voted 54-45 on the latest attempt, falling short of the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster.
Three members of the Democratic caucus, including Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and independent Angus King of Maine, broke with party leadership to support the measure. Republicans still fell five votes short of the threshold.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., was the lone Republican to oppose the continuing resolution.
Along with rollbacks to Medicaid expansions included in the GOP’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed over the summer, Democrats are also pushing for a permanent extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire Dec. 31. Republicans have resisted linking any policy negotiations to ending the shutdown.