How H.R. 1 Threatens the Health and Wellbeing of Asian American New Yorkers
Fact sheet examines the impact of H.R. 1 on Asian New Yorkers in immigration, healthcare, SNAP, and education.
New York, NY — On July 4, 2025, H.R. 1 was signed into law, an act that will slash billions from essential programs like Medicaid and SNAP and invest billions more in immigration enforcement and detention centers. Behind the massive funding shift are real consequences for Asian American New Yorkers, especially seniors, children, and mixed status families.
Asian Americans are the fastest growing group in the state. Many are frontline workers and immigrants, or live in households that rely on Medicaid, SNAP, and the Essential Plan. Some are students who rely on aid to go to college. Others are green card holders, visa applicants, asylum seekers, or refugees. The Asian American Federation has analyzed the preliminary text of H.R. 1 and how the policy changes will specifically impact Asian New Yorkers. Some of the most notable impacts are:
- 1.5 million New Yorkers may lose health coverage, including 224,000 low-income immigrants on the Essential Plan.
- ICE funding will increase by 308% raising the risk of workplace raids and family separation, even for longtime residents—especially in Asian American communities where detentions are already on the rise.
- New fees and work requirements will restrict access to care and legal status, especially for older adults and limited-English-proficient households.
- Nearly one in three Asian American children in New York lives in or near poverty—yet SNAP and CHIP are both being cut.