Former vice president and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden told a California audience that the United States has an obligation to provide health care to illegal immigrants, according toThe Daily Wire.
Biden, who has a significant lead in the Democratic primary polls, was campaigning in Los Angeles when he got on the topic of healthcare and immigration.
"I think that anyone who is in a situation where they're in need of health care, regardless of whether they are documented or undocumented, we have an obligation to see that they are cared for," Biden said. "That's why I think we need more clinics around the country."
Biden went on to disregard the idea that illegal immigration is a problem primarily about illegal border crossings, pointing to the number of illegal immigrants that are visa overstays.
"A significant portion of undocumented folks in this country are there because they've overstayed their visas," Biden said. "It's not people breaking down the gates coming across the border. And so, the biggest thing we've gotta do in this is tone down the rhetoric. We know why it's happening. It's to create fear and concern.
'Why is your job in danger? Because of that—' And then he describes them in very graphic, unflattering terms — that other, that immigrant. It's ridiculous," Biden continued, presumably referring to President Donald Trump.
While the other Democratic presidential candidates are racing each other left with single-payer health care proposals, Biden has not detailed what he plans to do on the issue if elected.
From a Vox article titled: "No one knows what Joe Biden thinks of healthcare:"
The former vice president, who announced his presidential candidacy Thursday morning, has stayed pretty mum on the topic. He has not endorsed Medicare-for-all, nor has he disavowed the idea. His spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on Monday on Biden's views on health care.