Idaho Representative Proposes Ban on Public Aid to Undocumented Immigrants in the US

Idaho lawmakers are advancing a bill intended to decrease the state's attractiveness to undocumented immigrants by restricting access to public assistance programs.

House Bill 135, introduced by Republican State Representative Jordan Redman, mandates citizenship verification for individuals over 18 seeking state and federal resources. The bill aims to deter undocumented immigration by limiting access to certain state-funded services. Its statement of purpose highlights a goal to prevent Idaho from becoming a "magnet" for undocumented immigrants.

While the legislation provides for emergency resources like healthcare, it proposes eliminating access to prenatal care, food assistance, and vaccinations for undocumented individuals and their dependents, in addition to barring them from temporary shelters, soup kitchens, and crisis counselling services. Critics of the bill argue that it worsens existing healthcare access challenges, particularly during vulnerable times.

Local opponents voice concern that the new restrictions would further marginalize individuals already struggling to secure necessary care.
Data from the Migration Policy Institute estimates that approximately 29,000 undocumented individuals reside in Idaho, while a University of Idaho report suggests this figure may be closer to 35,000. Federal assistance programs such as SNAP and Medicaid are already unavailable to undocumented immigrants, and many state resources are similarly restricted, as noted on Idaho's Health and Welfare website.

In the previous legislative session, Redman had introduced a similar bill along with another Republican lawmaker, which did not advance. He has acknowledged the difficulty in quantifying the long-term financial implications of the proposed changes, as access to benefits is not tracked by legal status, making potential savings hard to determine.