South Lake Today

Washington, D.C. - A group of House Republicans, led by Florida Congressman Daniel Webster, is demanding answers from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regarding allegations that resources meant for veterans are being used to aid illegal immigrants. The lawmakers are concerned that the VA's Financial Services Center is processing medical claims on behalf of illegal immigrants in collaboration with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The report has raised concerns about the prioritization of resources, particularly given the long wait times that veterans are experiencing for medical care and disability benefits. The VA disability claims backlog has tripled to 318,221 under the Biden Administration, compared to consistently under 100,000 claims during the Trump Administration. The lawmakers argue that the VA should focus its attention on serving veterans who have risked their lives to protect the country, rather than diverting resources to an overwhelming number of migrants entering the country illegally.

In a letter addressed to the VA, the lawmakers stated, "Congress appropriates funds to the VA in order to provide services to our veterans, not illegal immigrants." They called on the VA to provide answers to several questions by December 27, 2023, including the number of claims processed for ICE on a monthly basis since January 2021, the priority given to claims submitted for care provided to VA beneficiaries, the amount of time spent by VA personnel processing medical claims on behalf of ICE, and whether the VA is providing any other services to federal agencies involving illegal immigrants.

The letter was co-signed by 22 House Republican colleagues, including Representatives Diana Harshbarger, Warren Davidson, Ralph Norman, Matthew Rosendale Sr., Paul A. Gosar, Andy Biggs, Pete Sessions, Dan Crenshaw, Tom Tiffany, Pat Fallon, Aaron Bean, Troy E. Nehls, Harriet M. Hageman, Brian Babin, Christopher H. Smith, John Rose, Randy K. Weber Sr., Lauren Boebert, Scott Perry, Pete Stauber, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Clay Higgins.

The lawmakers are seeking transparency and accountability from the VA regarding the alleged use of veteran resources for illegal immigrants. They believe that it is crucial for the government to prioritize the needs of veterans who have served the country and ensure that their resources are not being diverted for other purposes.

The VA has yet to respond to the letter, but the lawmakers are hopeful that they will receive the requested information to address the concerns raised.

Click this link to access more information: https://webster.house.gov/press-releases?ID=A0989583-C325-4F2C-BDFA-45195C030407