Far-Left House Candidate Advocates for Healthcare Access for Illegal Immigrants: 'How Is That Controversial?'
Illinois congressional hopeful Kat Abughazaleh champions universal healthcare for illegal immigrants, taking on Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Kat Abughazaleh, a 26-year-old progressive making her first bid for Congress, sparked debate this week by stating emphatically that “every single person in the world deserves healthcare,” including those living in the United States without legal documentation. Appearing on a Thursday night news panel, Abughazaleh questioned why this stance should be controversial, pressing her point that no one should be left to die in a hospital due to inability to afford care.
Abughazaleh’s position comes as the national dialogue over healthcare intensifies, especially with President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act moving through congressional consideration. The sweeping legislation is being touted by the current administration as a means to deliver on campaign promises involving border security, energy policy, and tax reforms. Yet, at the heart of the ongoing debate is a sharp divide over Medicaid—specifically, whether or not undocumented immigrants should have access to federally funded healthcare programs.
Republican lawmakers have been clear about their intent: to remove illegal immigrants from Medicaid eligibility. They argue that these changes will help eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in the system, thus ensuring that coverage reaches only those with legitimate need. “This legislation targets only those who are ineligible—illegal immigrants, duplicate enrollees, and able-bodied adults refusing to work,” explained Rep. Erin Houchin, a key figure in budget negotiations. Republicans maintain that the bill contains protections for the most vulnerable Americans and claim it streamlines Medicaid without gutting essential services.
Democrats, however, see these measures as far-reaching and harmful. Not only did every House Democrat vote against the bill, but party leaders warn that cuts to Medicaid will become a central issue in the midterm elections, painting the Republican proposal as a gutting of the social safety net. Abughazaleh has positioned herself firmly with this critique, arguing that the proposed reforms would strip coverage from up to 11 million Americans, while still failing to achieve the cost efficiency of universal healthcare. “Healthcare is a human right, you absolute ghouls,” she wrote in response to critics, underscoring her campaign’s central message.
Abughazaleh’s bid for the Illinois ninth congressional district pits her against longtime incumbent Rep. Jan Schakowsky. With a background as a staffer for the progressive watchdog group Media Matters and a reputation as a rising influencer among progressives, Abughazaleh is running on the claim that “our leaders are out of touch,” pushing for bold reforms and a new generation of leadership that prioritizes universal healthcare access—regardless of citizenship status. As the 2026 midterms approach, the race between establishment and insurgent voices looks set to keep healthcare at the forefront of the political conversation.