HHS Deputy: Undocumented Child-Rape Convict Got $7.3K In Medicaid; ICE Arrested Him In Kentucky

HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill publicized a case in which Jose Trinidad Arreola-Ortega, an undocumented immigrant convicted of child rape in Kentucky, received roughly $7,300 in Medicaid benefits. O’Neill’s post on X framed the disclosure within partisan budget fights, alleging Democrats insist on continued Medicaid funding, while ICE previously arrested the individual. The claim taps a broader messaging surge about noncitizen access to Medicaid amid debates over eligibility, oversight, and data-sharing with enforcement agencies.