Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Amid Covid Surge, Biden Will Keep Border Closed To Migrants: Sources
Politico: White House Not Planning To Lift Covid Border Restrictions This Month
President Joe Biden was widely expected to lift restrictions this summer that have blocked migrants from seeking asylum since the start of the pandemic. The fast-spreading delta variant of the Covid-19 virus and surging numbers of border apprehensions have derailed those plans. The administration will not begin phasing out its use of the public health order, known as Title 42, at the end of this month, despite mounting legal challenges and renewed criticism from allies about the 16-month closure, according to four people familiar with the discussions. (Rodriguez and Kumar, 7/28)
In news about immigrant health care in Texas —
Politico: Abbott Aims To Restrict Immigrant Travel Through Texas, Citing Rising Covid-19 Infections
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order Wednesday designed to restrict border entries in Texas, saying the action will cut down on Covid-19 infections, as his party continues to criticize the president’s handling of the border. The move comes about a month after the governor vowed to build a border wall in Texas, a nod to former President Donald Trump’s plan to curb migration. The Republican party has been chiding the Biden administration’s handling of heightened border crossings, urging Vice President Kamala Harris to visit the U.S.-Mexico border and criticizing the trip she made in June. (Sheehey, 7/28)
Fox News: Texas Police Department Warns Public After COVID-Positive Migrants Released By Border Patrol Into Town
A Texas border town police department is warning citizens of the potential danger posed by illegal immigrants infected with COVID-19 being released by Border Patrol agents and housed in local hotels. The La Joya, Texas, Police Department issued a public health announcement on Facebook this week and explained that concerned citizens had witnessed a family group coughing and sneezing at a local Whataburger. Police said they were told by the group they had been released by Border Patrol into a local hotel. (Miller, 7/29)
And in news from California —
KQED: How California Will Expand Medi-Cal To Include More Low-Income Immigrants
Californians who are at least 50 and living in the country without permission are newly eligible for state health care coverage under legislation signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday, part of a record state budget that includes major investments in mental health, homelessness and housing. The legislation to expand Medi-Cal coverage to low-income adults regardless of immigration status builds upon proposals pushed by Democrats to extend the state’s version of federal Medicaid to children in 2016 and to young adults under 26 in 2020. Around 235,000 people are expected to benefit from this legislation. (7/28)
Fox News: Newsom Signs Bill Granting Taxpayer Funded Health Care To Elderly Illegal Immigrants
California has become the first state in the nation to provide taxpayer funded health benefits to elderly illegal immigrants. California’s governor, Democrat Gavin Newsom, signed AB 133 into law Tuesday which opened the state's Medi-Cal rolls to illegal aliens 50 years and older in a move that the governor referred to as a "major milestone." (Miller, 7/28)
