RICHMOND, Va. (TND) — Virginia legislators are contemplating providing illegal immigrant children with state-funded comprehensive health insurance.

The "Cover All Kids" act, written by State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, would grant such individuals under 19 years old health care coverage if they would qualify for state medical services despite their immigration status.

Assistance processed through the health insurance would need to resemble services administered under the state plan for current recipients.

The act would also offer immigrants with limited English-speaking capabilities and those with disabilities free language translation services. Under the bill, the Department of Medical Assistance Services is prohibited from disclosing immigration status to authorities unless the patient consents or a court orders it, in which case a state official would notify the individual.

State Sen. Hashimi believes the act sends a “strong” message Virginia will invest in children's futures.

"Every child throughout the Commonwealth, regardless of income, immigration status and background should have access to quality, comprehensive healthcare," State Sen. Hashmi argued, according to FOX News. "We know that a healthy childhood leads to better health, education and economic outcomes for children and their families.”

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State Sen. Glen Sturtevant, R-Colonial Heights, believes the bill undermines legal immigration and incentivizes illegal border crossings.

"Because of President Biden's open-border policy, every state is now a border state – including Virginia,” he told Fox News.

State Sen. Sturtevant estimates the proposal will cost taxpayers more than $100 million this decade.

"These bad policies jeopardize not just Virginia's healthcare system but create perverse incentives that illegal immigrants will see as a green light to travel to Virginia for free schooling, driver's licenses and, now, free healthcare,” the lawmaker said, according to FOX News. He also alleged “sanctuary city” policies like state-funded healthcare will emulate obstacles New York and Chicago have witnessed.

The act currently sits in the Finance and Appropriations Committee.

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The migrant influx resulted in more than 2.4 million southern border encounters in the 2023 fiscal year. The Republican Homeland Security Committee attributed the border issues partly to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

“While monthly apprehensions and encounters continue to increase, Mayorkas simply continues to double down on his mass-parole programs, incentivizing and facilitating the entry of otherwise inadmissible aliens into the United States at a scale never before seen,” the committee remarked in October.

A House Republican-led effort to impeach Mayorkas failed Tuesday.

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