Latest news with #ElConcilioCalifornia
CBS News
14-03-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Gov. Gavin Newsom seeks $3.4B loan to help shortfall in California's Medi-Cal program
SACRAMENTO – California Gov. Gavin Newsom is seeking a $3.4 billion loan from the general fund to help a shortfall in the state Medi-Cal healthcare program. It comes a year after the governor expanded Medi-Cal to undocumented immigrants. A spokesperson for the governor's office said the money was needed for several reasons, including rising costs of health care in general. It's the state medical coverage of undocumented immigrants now creating political pushback. "More mismanagement by this governor," Republican Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher said. Gallager was quick to pounce on the problem of the state health insurance program for low-income people. "What has been the biggest driver of cost to the medical system," Gallagher said. "It's been adding illegal immigrants to those rolls." The estimated cost for Medi-Cal ballooned from a projected $6.4 billion in July, to $9.5 billion now. "There are tough choices ahead, and Assembly Democrats will closely examine any proposal from the governor. But let's be clear: We will not roll over and leave our immigrants behind." Jose Rodriguez is the president of El Concilio California, an immigrant rights organization that receives California funding to help sign people up for Medi-Cal. "It just seems unfortunate that we're short on funding as a government we always want to scapegoat the immigrant community," Rodriguez said. "These are some of the hardest working people in our country and doing the job that no one else wants to do." "I'm sure there will be an effort to roll back some of the access because the federal government is threatening to cut Medicaid," Rodriguez said. Newsom rolled out the state's full-scope Medi-Cal expansion to undocumented immigrants in 2019 and expanded the program to all ages in 2024. Now there is new scrutiny over California healthcare costs that could lead to cuts. So far the governor's finance department has not released a detailed breakdown what caused the increase in healthcare costs or if there will be more money needed from the general fund on top of this loan.
CBS News
28-01-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Mixed-status Modesto family worry about Trump administration's immigration policy
MODESTO — As President Trump's pledge to increase immigration enforcement begins, ICE is confirming crackdowns are ramping up in cities across the country. Now, the fear factor is setting in for migrant families in California communities. One undocumented Modesto couple sat down with me to talk about their concerns. Gabriella Mederos and Alfredo Renteria said they wanted to share their story to help others. The couple are parents to a teenage son, Miguel, who was born in the U.S. and is a citizen. They own a Modesto printing business and have five employees. They're wondering what will come next. I asked why they were willing to risk sharing their story and showing their identities on camera. "It's simple. We want to help people wake up," Renteria said. When asked if they were concerned about being deported, Mederos responded, "Yes because we don't have a fixed status. We are in a process, but we don't know what might happen." "When you decided to come, were you aware of the risk that without documents, you could be deported?" I asked the couple. "I already completed my degree in Mexico," Mederos said. "In 2010, I decided to come here due to a very dangerous situation. My life completely changed." Mederos came with her father, paying a human smuggler often referred to as coyotes or polleros, to help her cross the border. Renteria arrived on a tourist visa legally. When the visa expired, he never went back. "Here, if you work, you'll come along successful," Renteria said. Nonprofit immigrant rights groups like El Concilio California are now hosting crowded classrooms preparing undocumented immigrants with what to tell law enforcement if they are detained. California Assemblymember Heath Flora is a Stanislaus County farmer, a Republican and a Trump supporter who says undocumented workers who do not have a criminal record should be encouraged to come forward to get legal papers without fearing deportation. "I've supported President Trump. I support a secure border as well, but I think there is a right and a wrong way to do things, and I think that President Trump wrote a book about the art of the deal," Flora said. "I'm hoping that we come back and have a more comprehensive approach to immigration policy." For Renteria and Mederos, their future as undocumented immigrants is uncertain. "I never thought I would arrive in this country," Mederos said. "My greatest wish is that if we're able to gain legal status, that everything will be good for my son, my family — and to help others get inspired by my story." This Modesto couple serves as a symbol for the U.S. immigration debate, seeking a citizenship solution. Renteria and Mederos are working on their citizenship process through El Concilio California. Under current law for undocumented couples like them, it's tough to get legal status with no parent or spouse to petition them.
