A fact check from PolitiFact has rated several claims made by U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno as “false” and “misleading,” focusing on ads that accuse Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown of voting to provide federal benefits to immigrants in the U.S. without legal status.
In one of the ads, Moreno’s campaign alleges that Brown “voted with radicals like Kamala Harris to give illegals taxpayer-funded stimulus checks, health care, even Social Security.” The ad further blames Brown for contributing to the immigration crisis at the southern border. The claims are part of a broader $25 million ad campaign, which includes TV, digital, and mail components.
However, PolitiFact’s investigation into the claims shows they largely distort Brown’s voting record, specifically in three instances cited by Moreno’s campaign, which took place in 2007, 2013, and 2021.
Misleading on Stimulus Checks
One of the key points of Moreno’s attack is Brown’s vote against an amendment by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to the 2021 American Rescue Plan. Moreno’s campaign claims this vote allowed undocumented immigrants to receive stimulus checks, but PolitiFact found this claim misleading. The American Rescue Plan already excluded individuals in the U.S. illegally from receiving these payments. The law required a Social Security number for eligibility, effectively barring undocumented immigrants from qualifying. According to experts, the Cruz amendment would have addressed a small loophole, preventing people who overstayed their visas from potentially using their Social Security numbers to receive payments, but Brown’s vote against it did not change the overall eligibility requirements.
Health Care Access Misrepresented
Another claim made by Moreno involves Brown’s 2013 vote on a budget amendment introduced by Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), which sought to prevent undocumented immigrants from receiving federally subsidized health care. Moreno alleges that Brown’s vote helped allow immigrants to access health benefits. However, PolitiFact clarified that federal law already prohibits undocumented immigrants from receiving Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or subsidized insurance through government portals. Brown’s vote was against an amendment that had no substantive policy effect, and even a political science expert described the vote as symbolic.
Social Security Benefits for Immigrants
The third vote Moreno highlights occurred in 2007, when Brown voted against an amendment by Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) that would have barred immigrants who later obtained legal status from receiving credit toward Social Security for work they completed while in the U.S. illegally. Moreno’s campaign framed this as Brown voting to give Social Security benefits to undocumented immigrants. However, the fact check explains that this vote did not grant benefits to those currently in the country illegally. Instead, it pertained to individuals who later earned legal status and sought to apply credit for previous work.
Fact Checkers’ Conclusion
In this instance, the claims about Brown’s votes are inaccurate, as federal laws already prevent undocumented immigrants from receiving benefits like Social Security, Medicaid, or stimulus payments. Moreno’s portrayal of these votes distorts their actual impact and context.
Ultimately, PolitiFact rated the claims as false, continuing a pattern of misleading statements from Moreno’s campaign as he seeks to unseat Brown in the upcoming Senate race.
