Ben D’Avanzo
@bendavanzo.bsky.social
Advocate for health equity and economic justice for the National Immigration Law Center. Also neighborhood and housing issues as a hobby. Dad of 2 cute wild kids.
Why does the web page look like this when I submit a snow issue?
February 1, 2026 at 12:23 PM
Why does the web page look like this when I submit a snow issue?
Thanks Kim! We'll be putting her money to good work
January 30, 2026 at 6:21 PM
Thanks Kim! We'll be putting her money to good work
January 24, 2026 at 11:58 PM
From Politico this morning, it's worth noting our relationship with the Pacific COFA nations includes testing many nuclear weapons there, leading to high rates of cancer and inedible produce
Today, folks from COFA countries leave their homes to come work in meat processing plants in the Midwest
Today, folks from COFA countries leave their homes to come work in meat processing plants in the Midwest
January 6, 2026 at 12:20 PM
From Politico this morning, it's worth noting our relationship with the Pacific COFA nations includes testing many nuclear weapons there, leading to high rates of cancer and inedible produce
Today, folks from COFA countries leave their homes to come work in meat processing plants in the Midwest
Today, folks from COFA countries leave their homes to come work in meat processing plants in the Midwest
All paid for by cutting Medicaid and SNAP www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
January 5, 2026 at 6:52 PM
All paid for by cutting Medicaid and SNAP www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
"SS"ecretary is too on the nose www.politico.com/newsletters/...
December 2, 2025 at 7:29 PM
"SS"ecretary is too on the nose www.politico.com/newsletters/...
This rampant disregard for religious institutions by ICE and CBP come from an end to the Sensitive Locations policy, that had, for years, restricted enforcement actions at churches, hospitals, etc www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
November 17, 2025 at 3:59 PM
This rampant disregard for religious institutions by ICE and CBP come from an end to the Sensitive Locations policy, that had, for years, restricted enforcement actions at churches, hospitals, etc www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Just when families are struggling to afford long term care, workers are being fired due to the Trump administration’s willingness to hurt anyone and everyone to rid the country of immigrants www.nytimes.com/2025/07/18/u...
July 19, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Just when families are struggling to afford long term care, workers are being fired due to the Trump administration’s willingness to hurt anyone and everyone to rid the country of immigrants www.nytimes.com/2025/07/18/u...
NYT gets it right at least
July 4, 2025 at 4:50 PM
NYT gets it right at least
No, it really doesn't do this.
If you're going to write a column downplaying people losing health coverage, is it too much to ask for some basic fact checking?
wapo.st/3Iek0Oc
If you're going to write a column downplaying people losing health coverage, is it too much to ask for some basic fact checking?
wapo.st/3Iek0Oc
July 4, 2025 at 1:57 PM
No, it really doesn't do this.
If you're going to write a column downplaying people losing health coverage, is it too much to ask for some basic fact checking?
wapo.st/3Iek0Oc
If you're going to write a column downplaying people losing health coverage, is it too much to ask for some basic fact checking?
wapo.st/3Iek0Oc
A reminder of how authorized immigrants are being redefined as "illegal": The Freedom Caucus claims Section 71109 of the reconciliation bill strips "illegal aliens" of Medicaid
But it is really legal refugees, asylum recipients, and survivors of trafficking and domestic violence losing health care
But it is really legal refugees, asylum recipients, and survivors of trafficking and domestic violence losing health care
July 2, 2025 at 6:13 PM
A reminder of how authorized immigrants are being redefined as "illegal": The Freedom Caucus claims Section 71109 of the reconciliation bill strips "illegal aliens" of Medicaid
But it is really legal refugees, asylum recipients, and survivors of trafficking and domestic violence losing health care
But it is really legal refugees, asylum recipients, and survivors of trafficking and domestic violence losing health care
These Democrats (and Republicans besides Collins) voted to cut the FMAP in 34 states that cover lawfully residing immigrant children by 10%
June 30, 2025 at 8:18 PM
These Democrats (and Republicans besides Collins) voted to cut the FMAP in 34 states that cover lawfully residing immigrant children by 10%
All of these dark blue states, for example, cover children who aren't eligible for Medicaid because of their immigration status
June 29, 2025 at 2:01 PM
All of these dark blue states, for example, cover children who aren't eligible for Medicaid because of their immigration status
And who are those immigrants? Undocumented people yes. But also others, because this means the people not qualified under the 1996 "welfare reform" law. So, it also means people with Temporary Protect Status, for example. Or DACA recipients.
June 29, 2025 at 2:01 PM
And who are those immigrants? Undocumented people yes. But also others, because this means the people not qualified under the 1996 "welfare reform" law. So, it also means people with Temporary Protect Status, for example. Or DACA recipients.
Or it is a state that provides comprehensive health benefits coverage to the same people
So basically, Specified States are those that provide health care or insurance to immigrants who can't be qualified for Medicaid
So basically, Specified States are those that provide health care or insurance to immigrants who can't be qualified for Medicaid
June 29, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Or it is a state that provides comprehensive health benefits coverage to the same people
So basically, Specified States are those that provide health care or insurance to immigrants who can't be qualified for Medicaid
So basically, Specified States are those that provide health care or insurance to immigrants who can't be qualified for Medicaid
It can be a state that does one of two things. First, it can be a state that uses its own funds to help purchase health insurance immigrants that are not "qualified aliens" for the purposes of Medicaid eligibility, excepting lawfully present children and pregnant women
June 29, 2025 at 2:01 PM
It can be a state that does one of two things. First, it can be a state that uses its own funds to help purchase health insurance immigrants that are not "qualified aliens" for the purposes of Medicaid eligibility, excepting lawfully present children and pregnant women
The first part of this policy reduces the matching funds for all people (not just immigrants!) in certain states receiving funds under the Medicaid expansion, from 90% to 80%. This 10 percentage point change leads to billions of dollars less going to states.
But what is a Specified State?
But what is a Specified State?
June 29, 2025 at 2:01 PM
The first part of this policy reduces the matching funds for all people (not just immigrants!) in certain states receiving funds under the Medicaid expansion, from 90% to 80%. This 10 percentage point change leads to billions of dollars less going to states.
But what is a Specified State?
But what is a Specified State?
Republicans are going to talk a lot about 1.4 million immigrants losing health insurance. What an awful thing to brag about.
But as the Senate clerks read the bill, I hope they actually listen to what the relevant section does. Because it sets quite the precedent.
But as the Senate clerks read the bill, I hope they actually listen to what the relevant section does. Because it sets quite the precedent.
June 29, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Republicans are going to talk a lot about 1.4 million immigrants losing health insurance. What an awful thing to brag about.
But as the Senate clerks read the bill, I hope they actually listen to what the relevant section does. Because it sets quite the precedent.
But as the Senate clerks read the bill, I hope they actually listen to what the relevant section does. Because it sets quite the precedent.
Reporters and Republicans keep falsely saying that the reconciliation bill bars immigrants from Medicaid. This is not true. It bars many legal immigrants and it cuts overall Medicaid funding for states that cover immigrants on state funded programs
@burgessev.bsky.social please be more accurate
@burgessev.bsky.social please be more accurate
June 26, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Reporters and Republicans keep falsely saying that the reconciliation bill bars immigrants from Medicaid. This is not true. It bars many legal immigrants and it cuts overall Medicaid funding for states that cover immigrants on state funded programs
@burgessev.bsky.social please be more accurate
@burgessev.bsky.social please be more accurate
An Airbnb has 8 bedrooms, and then this is the dining area?
June 25, 2025 at 1:17 AM
An Airbnb has 8 bedrooms, and then this is the dining area?
This letter from House moderates explicitly calls out the Senate's cuts to Emergency Medicaid, which reimburses hospitals for care for immigrants' ineligible for Medicaid. With millions of immigrants losing health care under reconciliation, it's a significant blow to hospitals.
June 24, 2025 at 6:27 PM
This letter from House moderates explicitly calls out the Senate's cuts to Emergency Medicaid, which reimburses hospitals for care for immigrants' ineligible for Medicaid. With millions of immigrants losing health care under reconciliation, it's a significant blow to hospitals.
It is extremely frustrating that media outlets, like Punchbowl, accept the falsehood that undocumented immigrants get SNAP and Medicaid. It's authorized immigrants, like refugees, that are getting kicked off!
June 23, 2025 at 9:51 AM
It is extremely frustrating that media outlets, like Punchbowl, accept the falsehood that undocumented immigrants get SNAP and Medicaid. It's authorized immigrants, like refugees, that are getting kicked off!
I hope the fiscal hawks and small government types really take a look at the ICE funding, that, with no strings attached, increases its budget by a factor of 13
June 12, 2025 at 5:01 PM
I hope the fiscal hawks and small government types really take a look at the ICE funding, that, with no strings attached, increases its budget by a factor of 13
