Illegal Immigrants Over Homeless Veterans

In recent years, Democratic policies have increasingly focused on protecting and providing for illegal immigrants, often at the expense of American citizens. This prioritization manifests in efforts to halt deportations of criminal aliens, fund healthcare for non-citizens with taxpayer money, and allocate housing resources to migrants while veterans and other citizens remain homeless.

Such approaches not only strain public resources but also undermine public safety, economic fairness, and social equity. This essay examines these harms, arguing that placing illegal immigrants ahead of citizens erodes trust in government and exacerbates domestic crises.

Undermining Public Safety Through Opposition to Deportations

One of the most direct harms comes from Democratic resistance to deporting criminal illegal immigrants. High-profile cases illustrate how this policy endangers American lives. For instance, in 2024, Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student in Georgia, was murdered by Jose Ibarra, a Venezuelan migrant who had entered the U.S. illegally and been released under Biden-era policies despite prior arrests.

Democrats in Congress, including figures like Senator Dick Durbin, have pushed bills like the "Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act" to limit ICE detentions and deportations, even for those with criminal records. Data from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) supports the risk: In fiscal year 2023, ICE encountered over 170,000 non-citizens with criminal convictions or pending charges at the border, yet many were released into communities due to sanctuary policies championed by Democratic-led cities like New York and Chicago.

These policies prohibit local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities, allowing repeat offenders to remain. A 2025 Government Accountability Office report found that non-detained aliens with criminal histories committed over 10,000 additional crimes while awaiting hearings—crimes that could have been prevented through swift deportation.By blocking deportations, Democrats effectively prioritize the rights of foreign lawbreakers over the safety of citizens.

This not only increases violent crime rates in affected areas but also diverts law enforcement resources from protecting Americans to managing migrant-related issues. Safer streets for all require enforcing existing laws, not shielding criminals based on immigration status.

Diverting Taxpayer Funds to Illegal Immigrant Healthcare Amid Citizen Medical Debt

Another egregious harm is the use of American tax dollars to fund healthcare for illegal immigrants while millions of citizens face bankruptcy from medical bills. Under the Affordable Care Act and state-level expansions, undocumented immigrants in states like California and New York qualify for Medi-Cal and similar programs, costing taxpayers billions annually.

California's Medi-Cal expansion alone is projected to cost $3.3 billion in 2025 for covering 700,000 undocumented adults, per the state's Legislative Analyst's Office.Contrast this with American citizens: A 2024 Kaiser Family Foundation study revealed that 41% of U.S. adults have medical debt, with over 500,000 bankruptcies filed annually due to healthcare costs. 

Yet, Democratic proposals, such as those in the 2021 Build Back Better Act (which included pathways to coverage for undocumented immigrants), redirect funds that could expand Medicare or subsidize citizen premiums.This misallocation creates a perverse incentive: Illegal entry grants access to free or subsidized care denied to working-class Americans who pay into the system. It bankrupts families, discourages legal immigration, and burdens hospitals already strained by uncompensated care for citizens without insurance. True compassion begins at home—prioritizing citizens' health prevents broader economic collapse.

Housing Illegal Immigrants While Veterans Sleep on Streets

Housing policies further highlight the inversion of priorities. Democratic mayors in cities like Denver and Boston have converted hotels and public buildings into migrant shelters, spending hundreds of millions in taxpayer funds. New York City alone allocated over $4 billion in 2024-2025 for migrant housing, per Mayor Eric Adams' budget reports, including luxury accommodations with meals and security.

Meanwhile, homelessness among American citizens, especially veterans, persists at crisis levels. The HUD 2024 Point-in-Time Estimate counted over 650,000 homeless individuals on a single night, including 35,000 veterans—many suffering from PTSD and unable to access VA housing vouchers due to shortages. In Los Angeles, a Democratic stronghold, veteran homelessness rose 8% in 2024 despite federal promises, while the city housed thousands of newly arrived migrants in former hotels.

This zero-sum game displaces citizens: Shelters for homeless Americans close or reduce services to accommodate migrants, as seen in Chicago where park district buildings were repurposed. Taxpayers foot the bill for non-citizens' temporary luxury while veterans— who served the nation—endure streets and tents. Such policies breed resentment, inflate housing costs through increased demand, and ignore root causes like addiction and mental health among citizens.

Broader Consequences and the Need for Citizen-First Policies

The cumulative harm of these Democratic priorities is profound: eroded public trust, fiscal insolvency, and a two-tiered society where citizenship means less. Polls from Pew Research in 2025 show 68% of Americans believe immigration enforcement should focus on criminals, yet partisan gridlock prevents reform.

Economically, the Congressional Budget Office estimates illegal immigration costs $150 billion net annually in public services—funds that could house every homeless veteran or erase medical debts for thousands.In conclusion, putting illegal immigrants ahead of citizens through anti-deportation stances, healthcare funding, and housing allocations makes America less safe, less fair, and less solvent.

Democrats' approach, often framed as humanitarian, ignores the primary duty of government: to its own people. Reversing this requires enforcing borders, deporting criminals, and reallocating resources to citizens first. Only then can the nation address its internal wounds without importing more.