(C) Idaho Capital Sun
This story was originally published by Idaho Capital Sun and is unaltered.
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Idaho bill will likely limit benefits for U.S. citizens, endanger health — not deter immigration • Idaho Capital Sun [1]
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Date: 2025-04-04
When it comes to health, we are all connected. Health policies that impact some can ultimately affect the health of the whole community.
House Bill 135, which imposes citizenship verification requirements for certain benefits like immunizations, testing for communicable diseases, prenatal care, and services like food and shelter, has passed the Idaho Legislature and now goes to the governor. Even though this bill aims to deter illegal immigration, it is just as likely to limit benefits to U.S. citizens and endanger the public’s health.
The country is facing outbreaks of syphilis, measles and tuberculosis. If we can’t screen and treat infectious diseases in our communities, we put everyone’s health at risk. That’s why we don’t require onerous citizenship documentation for these basic activities, even as immigrants are already blocked from receiving most public benefits and health coverage.
Idahoans value babies getting a healthy start in life, so we have similar exceptions for some pre- and post-natal care and nutrition programs regardless of the mom’s immigration status. The citizenship verification requirements in House Bill 135 could block pregnant women from receiving services that prevent pregnancy and labor complications, as well as birth defects. This policy could have severe and long-lasting consequences for Idaho families.
Some Idaho citizens may not have the required identification handy when they show up to the soup kitchen, the health department, or the mental health crisis center, so House Bill 135 would affect citizens and noncitizens alike. Under this bill, every single Idahoan receiving these services would have to jump through onerous hoops or may be blocked from services even if they are eligible.
Despite health and public health professionals’ warnings, over the past few years the Legislature has passed bills with adverse, unintended consequences to the health of Idahoans. This bill could be one of them.
Besides the issues above, legislators must consider the potential cost of training people on citizenship verification and setting up systems to carry out this task in the various areas impacted by this bill. There is also the cost to frontline providers, who would have to deal with the added bureaucracy and the distress of having to deny services to people in need.
Immigration is an issue that requires addressing, but this is not the way to do it — and certainly not a thoughtful, compassionate way to do it. House Bill 135 endangers the health of families, children and vulnerable people.
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