Texas Congressman Brandon Gill’s remarks during a congressional hearing on Wednesday have drawn mixed reactions online after he said that immigration played a major role in Medicaid fraud uncovered in Ohio’s home health waiver program. The Republican lawmaker claimed that Somali and Bhutanese immigrant communities account for a significant portion of the alleged fraud and said elected officials should not ignore the issue out of fear of being labeled racist.
In a video shared on X from the House Oversight task force’s first hearing, Gill stated, “The reality is that America wouldn’t have a problem with Somali and Bhutanese fraud if we didn’t have, and if we didn’t import, large numbers of Somali and Bhutanese people. That’s a fact.”
He said that the government has allowed people from what he called “low-trust societies” to enter the United States without sufficient vetting. He argued that such individuals have since abused the country’s immigration system, exploited public assistance programs, and enriched themselves at the expense of taxpayers.
The Texas lawmaker urged officials not to “stand idly by” or “back down” when it comes to protecting programs that many Americans rely on. He also added that concerns about accusations of racism should not prevent lawmakers from addressing fraud.
Netizens React to Gill’s Remarks
On X, the reactions from netizens were divided. Some supported Gill’s position and called for stricter enforcement against immigrants accused of abusing government programs.
“Deport them all,” one person urged. Another commenter added, “Call me racist, I want these people deported ASAP.” A third wrote, “American taxpayers have every right to demand honesty, accountability, and the rule of law. Fraud against the public trust must be stopped.” A fourth remarked, “It is unthinkable those who arrived a few years ago receive more welfare benefits, housing and healthcare than those who contributed their whole lives.”
A few others also argued that racism had nothing to do with it. “Racism is fake. No one cares about ur skin color or background in the U.S. Just don’t defraud services for those that need it,” one X user stated.
On the other hand, some people did not agree with Gill’s remarks. One netizen said fraud was not limited to a single community. “A whole lot more fraud has been perpetrated on our Medicaid system by native born Americans and organized criminal orgs. That you only focus on Somalis and Bhutanese proves you are nothing but a grotesque racist,” they wrote.
According to a press release from the Texas oversight committee, an estimated $1.2 billion of taxpayer money has been lost in the Medicaid waiver fraud.
