Anger continues to grow against DeSantis and now conservatives are demanding answers.
In 2024, Florida taxpayers footed a staggering bill of nearly $660 million for healthcare services provided to illegal immigrants, new data reveals. This spending raises significant concerns for Governor Ron DeSantis, whose administration has made reducing taxpayer-funded services for illegal immigrants a priority.
The issue is part of a broader national conversation on immigration, with former President Donald Trump continuing to push for stricter border enforcement and mass deportations, as promised during his campaign. The latest figures underscore the financial burden of immigration on Florida, a state that has long been at the center of the debate over how to balance compassion with fiscal responsibility.
According to the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), the state has spent over $659 million on healthcare for immigrants without legal status in 2024. This includes 67,700 emergency room visits by individuals who entered the country illegally, resulting in approximately $76.6 million in Medicaid expenditures. This total is a sharp increase from the $566 million spent on similar services in just half of the previous year.
Despite the growing costs, Governor DeSantis remains committed to protecting Florida’s taxpayers from funding healthcare for illegal immigrants. “The agency continues to work to uphold the governor’s commitment to shielding taxpayer dollars from being spent on those unlawfully present in the U.S.,” stated Kim Smoak, AHCA Deputy Secretary.
While these figures provide a glimpse into the financial toll, they do not account for how many illegal immigrants pay their medical bills or for those who may conceal their immigration status during treatment. The lack of a comprehensive reporting system makes it difficult to understand the true scale of the issue.
Florida has taken steps to curb these costs. In 2023, Governor DeSantis signed SB 1718, requiring employers with 25 or more employees to use the E-Verify system to check workers’ legal status. The law also mandates hospitals to inquire about immigration status during patient admissions, aiming to further restrict public benefits for illegal immigrants.
Miami-Dade County leads the state in healthcare spending for illegal immigrants, with $282 million in 2024. Broward, Hillsborough, Orange, and Duval counties also reported significant expenditures. Florida’s law requires AHCA to submit an annual report on these costs, highlighting the pressure on local governments and taxpayers.
Florida’s Republican lawmakers are likely to push for even stronger measures to limit taxpayer-funded services for illegal immigrants in the future, aiming to protect the financial interests of legal residents and maintain the state’s commitment to legal immigration. As Congresswoman Laurel Lee rightly pointed out, “Taxpayer money shouldn’t be wasted on illegals. I am fighting to end this absurdity and defend your hard-earned money.” The call to end this unsustainable spending is growing louder across the state.