As the proposed D.C. budget for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) enters the home stretch of its approval process, we have exciting news to share: On July 14, the D.C. Council voted to advance an amended budget proposal that would have an improved impact on our immigrant neighbors, as well as survivors, low-income families, and others who depend on our social safety net.
Thanks to the advocacy of our incredible community – including our team, nonprofit and grassroot advocacy partners, and Ayuda supporters like you – the proposed D.C. budget is much closer to what our families deserve:
- It would no longer repeal the Sanctuary Values Act, which prevents local authorities from collaborating with ICE. Given that sanctuary provisions make everyone safer, this is a huge win for immigrant survivors and our entire community.
- It would fully fund the Access to Justice Initiative at $31M, allowing Ayuda and legal services nonprofits across D.C. to serve more immigrants, survivors, and low-income neighbors.
- It would increase funding for the Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants (OVSJG) by 14.3% over the previous year, meaning that more survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and other crimes would be able to access the full continuum of care.
However, the proposed budget voted forward on Monday still contains provisions that would strip thousands of D.C. immigrants and other residents of their access to basic and preventative healthcare starting on October 1, 2025. Specifically, adults over 26 would lose eligibility for the Healthcare Alliance Program, which provides medical insurance to those who do not qualify for Medicaid – regardless of their immigration status.
“I witnessed firsthand how crucial access to the Alliance is for low-income immigrant families,” Ayuda Staff Attorney Esther Davila told the D.C. Council in testimony last month. “As one of the few benefits available to these low-income immigrant families, the Alliance ensures they can access the healthcare system…
“Furthermore, for low-income immigrants who are in the process of applying for legal status, the Alliance guarantees access to the healthcare system as they wait for decisions to be made on their applications. This is crucial because the process of obtaining legal status can take several years. For example, for individuals applying for a U visa, it currently takes about eight to ten years for final decisions to be made on their applications. During this time, access to the Alliance gives DC’s low-income immigrants security that they can comfortably seek medical services as they wait.
At Ayuda, we believe that access to healthcare should not be tied to immigration status. If you agree, please contact your D.C. Council Member and urge them to fully restore Healthcare Alliance funding for adults in the FY26 budget. Our friends at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute have made reaching out easy at this link.
If you are not a D.C. resident, you can still support our efforts by sharing this blog.
The FY2026 budget process continues at the D.C. Council’s July 28 vote, after which it will head to Mayor Bowser’s desk for consideration.
This post is a part of our blog series that follows how the proposed FY2026 D.C. budget would impact immigrants and our community’s most resilient members. To view previous updates on the D.C. budget:
