California's Medi-Cal Recipients Concerned About Impacts Of Budget Bill

Here are the morning’s top stories on Friday, July 11, 2025…

• It’s been a week since President Donald Trump signed the budget reconciliation bill into law, and California officials are still reviewing how this legislation will impact Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program for low-income residents, which covers 15 million Californians. Governor Gavin Newsom’s office estimates that Medi-Cal could lose billions of federal dollars over the next few years, and on social media, folks on Medi-Cal are worried that they could lose their coverage soon. 
• Federal authorities conducting an immigration raid at a legal cannabis farm in Ventura County clashed with demonstrators on Thursday.
• In the Santa Barbara County community of Carpinteria, a similar immigration sweep took place at a cannabis farm.

Budget Bill Could Have Huge Impact For Californians On Medi-Cal 

The new federal budget signed into law by President Donald Trump is expected to raise some health care insurance premiums and force millions off coverage, reverberating the most in lower-income families and communities that are already struggling.

Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program for low-income residents, covers 15 million Californians. Governor Gavin Newsom’s office estimates that Medi-Cal could lose billions of federal dollars over the next few years. But as of right now, this new law has not kicked anyone off their healthcare plan and changes to Medi-Cal actually won’t begin until December, 2026. Medi-Cal providers  are also encouraging members to keep seeing their doctors and get the care they need.

In California, if you are between 19 and 60 years old and make less than a certain amount, you qualify for Medicaid. Not all states do this. However, this new federal law requires California to set up new rules for this 19 to 60 group starting December 31, 2026. First, you will have to reapply for Medi-Cal coverage every six months to verify that you’re still eligible for the program. The other big change is in order to stay on Medi-Cal, you will need to prove that each month, you spend at least 80 hours either working, in school, or at a training program. These changes start December, 2026 and will only impact you if you are between 19 and 60 and do not have a disability.

Protesters And Federal Agents Clash During Raid At Ventura County Farm

A confrontation erupted Thursday between protesters and federal officials carrying out a raid on a Southern California cannabis farm, with authorities throwing canisters that sprayed what looked like smoke into the air to disperse the crowd.

Vehicles from Border Patrol and U.S. Customs and Border Protection blocked the road in a largely agricultural area of Camarillo in Ventura County. There were military-style vehicles and a helicopter flying overhead.

Television images showed dozens of demonstrators gathered on a road between fields where uniformed officers stood in a line across from them. In other images, white and green smoke can be seen as protesters retreat. Other images showed protesters shouting at agents wearing camouflage gear, helmets and gas masks. It wasn’t clear why the authorities threw the canisters or if they released chemicals like tear gas.

The incident comes as federal immigration enforcement agents have ramped up arrests in Southern California, heading to car washes, farms and Home Depot parking lots to take people into custody while stoking widespread fear among immigrant communities.

ICE Raid Hits Farm In Carpinteria

Emotions were high as more than 200 people showed up on Casitas Pass Road in Carpinteria on Thursday, after learning ICE raids targeted some farms in the area.

At one point, a dozen armed officers armed with rifles blocked demonstrators from walking towards the ranches. “It did get a little heated. A lot of folks here, their blood is up, and they’re very, very angry that there’s ICE in the neighborhood,” said Steve Mead, who lives in the area. “They (the officers) went as far as to throw flash grenades at the crowd, which I don’t think was called for at the time, because there was no contact whatsoever.”

George Jimenez said his parents work at one of the farms in the area. He said they are safe, but he doesn’t understand why the workers are being treated as criminals. “They’re working,” said Jimenez. “It’s not like they are criminals.” As officers left the roadblock area, they deployed smoke grenades as some of the protesters ran after their armored vehicle.