Far-Left House Candidate Champions Healthcare for Illegal Immigrants: 'How Is It Controversial?'

Kat Abughazaleh, a 26-year-old Democrat vying for Illinois' ninth congressional district seat, has sparked heated debate with her unapologetic stance on universal healthcare. Appearing on a televised panel Thursday night, Abughazaleh declared, "every single person in the world deserves healthcare," emphasizing that even those living in the United States illegally should be entitled to coverage. Challenged repeatedly about whether her vision of healthcare would extend to undocumented immigrants, she insisted it was not a controversial view, asking, "How is it controversial that I don't want someone to die in the hospital if they can't afford it?"

Abughazaleh's remarks focus attention on one of the most divisive issues at the heart of American politics as lawmakers consider sweeping reforms under President Donald Trump’s proposed One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This legislative package, strongly backed by the Republican-led Congress and White House, aims to transform key pillars of federal policy, including border security, tax cuts, and—most controversially—Medicaid reform. At the core of the Medicaid changes is a provision to remove illegal immigrants from the program, a move Republicans argue will eliminate waste and ensure benefits are reserved for eligible Americans who need them most.

The debate over Medicaid reform has grown increasingly acrimonious, with Democrats warning of severe consequences at the ballot box if the bill becomes law. Every Democrat in the House has voted against the legislation, and party strategists are already positioning Medicaid cuts as a defining issue for the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. They contend the changes threaten essential coverage for millions, while Republicans counter that the reforms mainly target those fraudulently enrolled or able-bodied individuals choosing not to work.

Rep. Erin Houchin, R-Ind., who played a key role in crafting the bill, maintains that the legislation does not strip coverage from the most vulnerable. She points to provisions specifically aimed at rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse—cutting off benefits to illegal immigrants, duplicate enrollees, and others not lawfully or rightfully eligible.

Abughazaleh, however, remains undeterred, publicly responding to her critics and the Republican National Committee by asserting, "Your bill is going to cut coverage for 11 million Americans and it’ll still cost more than universal healthcare. Healthcare is a human right, you absolute ghouls." In her campaign, she has made her own lack of health insurance a central message, portraying herself as an outsider taking on an establishment she says is out of touch with ordinary people. Her bid pits her against longtime Democratic incumbent Rep. Jan Schakowsky, a fixture in Illinois politics.

As the debate intensifies over the future of American healthcare, Abughazaleh's outspoken advocacy is quickly making her a prominent voice in progressive circles, while the legislative fate of Medicaid—and millions of Americans' access to health care—hangs in the balance.