UMVA has learned that California’s gubernatorial hopeful Xavier Becerra ignited a firestorm after defending taxpayer‑funded health care for undocumented workers in a recent interview.
When pressed about why the state should keep undocumented laborers on its health‑care rolls, Becerra spoke of his immigrant parents, calling these workers “hard‑working” and insisting, “If you’re working hard, I want you to have healthcare.”
He painted a vivid picture of the hands that harvest the fields, build homes, and tend to the elderly, arguing that Californians reap the benefits of their labor even without legal status.
Becerra warned that kicking these workers out of coverage would not save a dime; they would still flood emergency rooms, driving up costs for everyone.
The remarks quickly became a lightning rod, with opponents framing them as proof that undocumented immigrants are siphoning jobs and receiving “free health care” at taxpayers’ expense.
His Republican rival pledged to strip illegal aliens from state‑funded health programs, claiming such benefits encourage unlawful entry.
Social media erupted, spotlighting Becerra’s line about “the folks that are picking the crops,” and accusing him of valuing farmworkers and caregivers over struggling Californians burdened by soaring living costs.
Critics echoed the sentiment that the Democratic establishment places undocumented immigrants ahead of ordinary residents waiting for appointments or facing coverage gaps.
Undeterred, Becerra insists that extending health coverage to every worker is both a moral duty and a pragmatic strategy to safeguard the state’s economy and health system.
