Vice President J.D. Vance on Tuesday sharpened his criticism of Democrats amid the ongoing government shutdown, accusing them of using \u201csleight of hand\u201d tactics in budget negotiations. In a video posted to X, Vance claimed that Democrats\u2019 demands to reopen the government are tied to restoring taxpayer-funded health care benefits for undocumented immigrants.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are two very specific ways \u2014 and you can look at the legislative text \u2014 two specific ways in which the Democrats are asking us to give taxpayer-funded health care benefits for illegal aliens,\u201d Vance said.<\/p>\n
He pointed first to hospital reimbursement programs under the Biden administration, which covered emergency treatment for undocumented immigrants. Vance argued that reinstating the program would place heavy burdens on both citizens and taxpayers. He also cited parole programs that, under Biden, reclassified migrants in ways that made them eligible for health care coverage.<\/p>\n