Memphis Standard

U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee has raised concerns about the prioritization of medical care and benefits for illegal immigrants over American veterans and taxpayers by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Senator Blackburn highlighted the significant financial burden placed on taxpayers, stating, "In fiscal year 2022 alone, taxpayers shouldered the cost for $94.3 million worth of medical expenses for detained migrants, money that should have been used to support American veterans who bravely served this nation."

Furthermore, she pointed out the long waiting times that veterans face in having their claims processed. Currently, there are over 1 million veterans waiting for staff to process their claims, with an average wait time of about five months. The backlog is expected to increase this year, according to the VA's own data.

The senator expressed her disappointment in the Biden administration, stating, "The VA was created to support those who have served and protected this nation, and now senior VA officials have seemingly placed these veterans on a tier below the flood of illegal immigrants that are crossing our porous border."

Since President Biden took office, over 8.5 million illegal immigrants, including 1.7 million "gotaways," have entered the country. Senator Blackburn finds it unacceptable that the VA is redirecting its resources away from veterans in favor of those who have entered the country without following the proper legal procedures.

Senator Blackburn's concerns were expressed in a letter to Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough. She called for answers and demanded that veterans be given the support and resources they deserve. The full letter can be viewed by clicking here.

It remains to be seen how the Biden administration will address these concerns and whether any changes will be made to ensure that American veterans are prioritized over illegal immigrants in terms of medical care and benefits.