Local clinics brace for federal benefit cuts for refugees | Opinion

Advocates in Milwaukee warn that federal benefit cuts tied to a 2025 law could leave thousands of refugees and legal immigrants with major gaps in nutrition and health care. The rule disqualifies legal immigrants, including refugees, from key federal benefits if their Green Card application is still pending. Processing backlogs have left about 1.25 million Green Card applications unfinished, limiting access to services. In Wisconsin alone, an estimated 7,200 people are set to lose Medicaid and SNAP under the new eligibility standards. The article is written by a family physician who describes patients struggling to understand benefit letters and navigate care while uninsured.