Share
Vice President Mike Pence worries that a new California law extending health care to illegal immigrants will weaken the border.
Pence reacted to California Gov. Gavin Newsom signing SB 104 into law on Tuesday. The bill extends taxpayer-funded health benefits to all low-income Californians 25 or under, regardless of immigration status.
When asked about the health care bill Newsom signed into law, Pence said he vehemently opposed it.
“Let’s be clear. Human traffickers are enticing people to make the long and dangerous journey north by loopholes in our laws. Frankly, offering free health care as many Democrats have done, offering to make illegal immigration legal are policies that amount to open borders will only empower human traffickers to exploit more families,” Pence told reporters after his speech.
Newsom’s office, contacted to GV Wire, declined to offer a response.
Health Care for All
California’s plan is expected to add 90,000 to the state-paid health care rolls at a cost of $98 million.
“We’re providing health care for everyone, regardless of immigration status,” Newsom said at an event marking the bill signing. “If you believe in universal health care, you believe in universal health care.”
The state already provides health care to low-income state residents younger than 18. Before Newsom reached a compromise with state legislators, previous versions of the bill would have included either all Californians (Assembly version), or those 19-25 and 65 and older (Senate version).
Newsom indicated he would like to cover everyone, regardless of age or immigration status, in the future.
Pence Concerned About Borders
In his speech at the Freitas Family Farm, Pence spent about 30 minutes mainly discussing the pending U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement.
He also answered reporters’ questions afterward, talking about the southern border, and about problems with a labor shortage on agriculture.
Regarding SB 104, Pence worried about its effect on border security.
“It’s the wrong policy. A nation without borders is not a nation,” Pence said. “President Trump and I are absolutely determined to secure our borders, to provide compassionate and humanitarian care to those who present themselves at our borders, and to reform our laws and take the tools away. Offering free health care to illegal immigrants is not the answer and it will make things worse.”
Fresno Man Sentenced to 29 Years for Sexually Assaulting Children and Dog
12 hours ago
Bulldogs’ Two-Position Standout Tommy Hopfe Signs With Rockies
12 hours ago
Former Bulldog QB Jake Haener: I Have a ‘Rare Form of Skin Cancer’
13 hours ago
The Many Names of GOP Vice Presidential Nominee JD Vance
13 hours ago
Companies Cut Prices to Boost Sales, Consumers Respond
14 hours ago
Warner Bros. Discovery Sues NBA for Not Accepting Its Matching Offer
15 hours ago
CA Has Seen Many New Towns, but This Big Project Is Stalled
7 mins ago
Categories
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26104129/021624-California-Forever-LE-CM-29.jpg-1024x576.jpg)
CA Has Seen Many New Towns, but This Big Project Is Stalled
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26170645/Gage-Mason-20-was-sentenced-to-29-years-in-state-prison-for-sexually-assaulting-multiple-children-and-a-dog-and-will-also-be-required-to-register-as-a-sex-offender-1024x538.jpg)
Fresno Man Sentenced to 29 Years for Sexually Assaulting Children and Dog
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26161707/Tommy-Hopfe-with-the-Colorado-Rockies_1280X720-1024x576.jpg)
Bulldogs’ Two-Position Standout Tommy Hopfe Signs With Rockies
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26145457/image-2024-07-26T145350.189-1024x576.jpeg)
Former Bulldog QB Jake Haener: I Have a ‘Rare Form of Skin Cancer’
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26154603/Republican-vice-presidential-candidate-Sen.-JD-Vance-R-Ohio-speaks-at-a-campaign-rally-July-22-2024-in-Radford-Va.-Vance-introduced-himself-to-the-world-in-2016-when-he-published-his-bestse-1024x538.jpg)