Report: California Using Taxpayer Funds to Give Homeless Transgender Illegals Sex Changes
Earlier this week, independent journalist Christopher Rufo said he had uncovered a shocking abuse of taxpayer dollars in California.
Rufo shared his reporting in a post on the social media platform X. He also wrote an account that was published by the conservative news site City Journal.
“SCOOP: California is giving free sex-change procedures to homeless illegal aliens,” Rufo wrote.
SCOOP: California is giving free sex-change procedures to homeless illegal aliens. Our team went into the shelters and discovered that trans migrants are coming into the state for hormones, breast implants, and "bottom surgeries"—all on the taxpayer dime. https://t.co/mDs7ivwjG5
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@christopherrufo) April 15, 2026
“Our team went into the shelters and discovered that trans migrants are coming into the state for hormones, breast implants, and ‘bottom surgeries’—all on the taxpayer dime,” he added.
In a separate post, Rufo elaborated, specifically naming California Gov. Gavin Newsom — a man who wants to be president of the United States.
“EXCLUSIVE: Gavin Newsom is giving free sex-change procedures to homeless illegal aliens,” he wrote.
EXCLUSIVE: Gavin Newsom is giving free sex-change procedures to homeless illegal aliens. @ChoeShow is on the ground with this shocking story. pic.twitter.com/P5gJ5og91D
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@christopherrufo) April 15, 2026
The post included a video clip from independent reporter Jonathan Choe, Rufo’s co-author on the City Journal piece.
In the clip, Choe interviewed an individual identified as a transgender illegal from Central America.
EXCLUSIVE: Homeless transgender illegals in California are crossing the border to receive taxpayer-funded sex changes. It's one of the worst kept secrets on the streets.
Meanwhile, the state is facing a multibillion dollar budget shortfall. I wonder why? https://t.co/J29AIPyHW2 pic.twitter.com/AZiOcsphsS— Jonathan Choe (@choeshow) April 15, 2026
The individual, identified as a Honduran man named “Lyca,” spoke to Choe through an interpreter.
According to the translation, Lyca said he entered the United States illegally seeking access to free sex-change procedures.
Rufo indicated that Lyca was far from the only illegal immigrant in the Golden State seeking to take advantage of the system.
In his City Journal report, Rufo described encountering multiple individuals in similar situations.
At St. Vincent De Paul’s Multi-Service Center South, San Francisco’s largest homeless shelter, Rufo wrote that his team had also spoken to “Alondra” — another illegal from Honduras who identified as a transgender woman.
Both men indicated that they were receiving assistance from local government programs.
Lyca also said the shelter did not ask questions about his immigration status, according to Rufo.
“Tenho Medi-Cal,” Lyca said, which translates to “I have Medi-Cal.” Medi-Cal is California’s state health-care program.
The shelter’s executive director did not respond to request for comment, Rufo wrote.
Under policies implemented during Newsom’s administration, Medi-Cal expanded to provide full-scope coverage to illegal immigrants.
That coverage includes what the state classifies as transgender procedures, which the left often describes as “gender-affirming care.”
The translator told Choe that both men said they were approved to receive free housing.
Rufo summed up the situation in the closing paragraph of his City Journal report:
“Apparently, word has traveled down the continent to the transgender communities in Mexico, Honduras, and elsewhere: if you make it all the way to California, the government will pay for your shelter, hormones, and surgeries—no questions asked,” he wrote.
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