North Dakota
North Dakota joins suit to block taxpayer-funded health care for protected immigrants
BISMARCK — North Dakota has joined a lawsuit to block 200,000 immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally as children under an Obama administration program from accessing taxpayer-funded health care.
North Dakota Attorney General
Drew Wrigley
signed on to the lawsuit led by Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach. The case, filed Aug. 8 in North Dakota U.S. District Court, will be decided by federal Judge Daniel Traynor, who is seated in Bismarck.
Chris Flynn / The Forum
Along with North Dakota and Kansas, 13 other Republican-led states have signed the complaint against the U.S. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The administrative procedure lawsuit seeks to reverse a Biden administration rule that would expand access to health care to recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, also known as DACA. In 2012, then-President Barack Obama signed an executive order that protected children brought to the U.S. illegally from deportation.
President Joe Biden announced in May that his administration would expand health care to DACA beneficiaries, also called “Dreamers.” It classifies those who are “lawfully present” in the U.S. as eligible for health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
“I’m proud of the contributions of Dreamers to our country and committed to providing Dreamers the support they need to succeed,” Biden said in a statement. “That’s why I’ve previously directed the Department of Homeland Security to take all appropriate actions to ‘preserve and fortify’ DACA. And that’s why today we are taking this historic step to ensure that DACA recipients have the same access to health care through the Affordable Care Act as their neighbors.”
The Affordable Care Act, also called Obamacare, was a 2010 law that made affordable health care coverage more available to uninsured U.S. citizens. It also required citizens to obtain health insurance.
The lawsuit claims those protected by DACA do not qualify for taxpayer-funded health care because, “by definition,” they are unlawfully present in the U.S. There are 530,110 such immigrants in the U.S., and the final rule would allow up to 200,000 to be eligible for “a subsidized health plan,” the lawsuit said.
“For over a decade, Obama’s DACA executive order has been defended in court on the basis that is was not changing anyone’s legal status, it was merely exercising prosecutorial discretion not to deport certain aliens,” Wrigley said. “Now, the federal government turns around and says DACA does change aliens’ legal status by making them ‘lawfully present’ for government subsidized healthcare. The lawlessness and hypocrisy of that move is breathtaking.”
Expanding government-supported health care to DACA beneficiaries would place administrative, financial and resource burdens on states, the lawsuit said. The rule also could encourage more immigrants to come to the U.S. illegally with the hope that their children would qualify for health care under DACA, the lawsuit claimed.
“It is likely that aliens who would otherwise have returned to their countries of origin will instead remain in the United States because of the eligibility for ACA coverage provided by the Final Rule,” the lawsuit said, referring to the Affordable Care Act.
North Dakota has 160 immigrants protected by DACA, the lawsuit said. Court documents estimated that 6,000 to 9,000 immigrants live in North Dakota illegally and cost taxpayers between $27 million and $36 million a year.
“Illegal aliens shouldn’t get a free pass into our country,” Kobach said in a statement. “They shouldn’t receive taxpayer benefits when they arrive, and the Biden-Harris administration shouldn’t get a free pass to violate federal law.”
Alabama, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Virginia have also joined the lawsuit.
MAPLETON, N.D. (Valley News Live) – Casselton Fire responded to a shop fire in rural Mapleton on Saturday afternoon, according to Casselton Fire Chief John Hejl.
Casselton Fire was dispatched to the scene at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Windy conditions escalated the fire before crews arrived, Hejl said.
Firefighters used defensive and offensive lines to control the fire upon arrival.
Casselton Fire was assisted by Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Casselton Ambulance, West Fargo Police Department, Davenport Fire and Mapleton Fire.
Copyright 2026 KVLY. All rights reserved.
A do not use water advisory issued by the City of Finley, North Dakota. April 2026.
FINLEY, N.D. (KFGO) – The city of Finley, North Dakota has been without potable water since Friday due to a suspected water main leak. Steele County Emergency Management says it is unclear how long it will take to restore water services in the city.
The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality says the available water in Finley has been deemed unusable for drinking, cooking, bathing and washing dishes or laundry.
The water system will need to be flushed and samples that say the water is safe will need to be collected for the water advisory to be lifted.
Richard D. “Rick” Langowski, age 78 of Minto, North Dakota passed away on Thursday, April 16, 2026 at his home in Minto.
Rick was born March 10, 1948 in Grafton, North Dakota, the son of the late Julian and Catherine (Wysocki) Langowski. In 1967, he volunteered for the military bringing him to Germany as a Motor Sargent. After an Honorable Discharge he took a job at the International Airport in Grand Forks, ND. His duties included: refueling planes and jets as well as maintaining the grounds. He had the opportunity to meet the famous singer Mr. James Brown.
Rick was united in marriage to Alice Odegard on June 17, 1982 in Minto, North Dakota. The family made their home in Minto where they raised Jason and Angela. Rick was very proud of his children and loved them more than anything. He told everyone and bragged about the children he raised. He cherished his grandchildren and loved to be present in every aspect of their lives.
His career changed to semi driving where he drove for Cenex Transportation for four years and ten years for Valley Transports. His love for the open road directed him into the used car business. He opened Minto Auto Sales and Services in 1987, proudly operating for 39 years. He had the privilege to meet many people and travel to many places. He enjoyed riding his many Harley Davidson Motorcycles. In 2025, he sold the business to his longtime mechanic and friend, Aaron Anderson. In Rick’s opinion, “Minto Auto is one of the best mechanical shops in the area.”
He was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Minto, ND. He loved hunting with Jason, watching sports, especially the Yankees and Twins. In 2017, Rick was able to enjoy a father/son trip of a lifetime to Alaska. He thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the trip and thought was the best time of his life.
Rick is survived by his children: Jason Odegard, Reynolds, ND; Angela (Nick) Eppert, Goshen, IN; grandchildren: Ashlyn, Kaia, Annika, Boden and Caelan; sisters: Carol King, Grand Forks, ND; Connie Jones, Argyle, MN; seven nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his very close friend and confidant, Yvette Estep, Grafton, ND. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Robert and Ronald.
Rick’s family would like to extend a very special thank you to Yvette Estep, an employee of Rick’s, affectionately known as “hotrod.” She was there for Rick, along with Aaron for doctor’s appointments, treatments and helped comfort him throughout his battle. Jason and Angela will be forever indebted to her and consider her family.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 10:30 A.M. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Minto. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Minto, ND. Military Rites will be provided by the Minto American Legion Post and the North Dakota National Guard Honor Guard.
or send flowers to the family in memory of Richard D. Langowski, please visit our
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