FACT CHECK: The reality behind shutdown claims by Democrats and Republicans

This story was produced as part of the Colorado Capitol News Alliance. It first appeared at cpr.org .

DENVER | As the federal government shutdown continues, Republican lawmakers keep saying Democrats shut down the government to give “illegals” access to government-funded health care. Democrats say that’s a lie.

Like most things dealing with policy and politics. It’s complicated.

Claim: Democrats want to provide health care for “illegal” immigrants

One of the Democrats’ asks before they help reopen the government is to roll back the health care section from the One Big Beautiful Bill. Republicans have pointed out that means undoing the “Alien Medicaid Eligibility” and “Expansion FMAP for Emergency Medicaid.”

To be clear, undocumented immigrants are not eligible for Medicaid, bu