What Happened
A Nevada government worker got caught on hidden camera admitting he breaks the rules to give tax-funded benefits to people here illegally.
Deshaun Eli Mack works for the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. His job is to decide who gets emergency Medicaid benefits. The O’Keefe Media Group caught him on undercover video saying things like “I get them emergency medical all the time… I just approve them for 12 months because I can” and “Even undocumented people from Mexico and things; I can still get them benefits.”
Here’s the problem. Emergency Medicaid for undocumented immigrants is supposed to be granted on a month-to-month basis and only for severe, qualifying conditions. But Mack confessed that he bypasses this process entirely. “They’re supposed to apply every month,” he said, “so I just approve them for 12 months… because I can.”
When asked if he had that kind of power, Mack responded bluntly: “I make it so. I bend the rules a lot.” He even bragged about it: “I will twist and turn our provisions to fit the way that I want them to be.”
Why This Matters to Conservatives
This story hits every button that drives limited-government conservatives crazy. You’ve got a bureaucrat who thinks he’s above the law. You’ve got tax money going to people who shouldn’t be getting it. And you’ve got a government worker who admits he doesn’t cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.
Mack also acknowledged a culture within the agency of avoiding cooperation with federal immigration authorities, stating, “We would never call ICE. We do not work with them ever.”
The Legal Issues
Mack’s conduct could potentially violate multiple Nevada laws, including statutes related to misappropriation of public funds and the Nevada False Claims Act, which prohibits knowingly approving or submitting false claims for state payment.
But here’s where it gets tricky. What Mack did might be more about abusing his discretion than breaking criminal law. Emergency Medicaid does exist for undocumented immigrants in life-threatening situations. The question is whether stretching month-to-month approvals into year-long ones crosses the line from bad judgment into fraud.
What Mack Says Now
When reporters called him out, Mack’s story changed fast. First he denied wrongdoing, stating, “I don’t [break the law], because I’m not.” When shown his own recorded statements, he shifted his position, claiming, “I say a lot of things that I don’t mean” and eventually admitted, “I lie all the time.”
He suggested he may have exaggerated to impress the undercover journalist, saying, “Absolutely,” when asked if that was the reason for his comments. Despite the specificity of his original statements, Mack ultimately claimed, “None of those words I said were true.”
So either he was lying on camera about breaking the law, or he’s lying now about lying then. Either way, this is the guy deciding who gets your tax dollars.
The Bigger Context
Several states have been offering health insurance coverage to immigrants without legal status, but many are now rolling back these programs due to budget constraints. Even liberal states like California and Minnesota are cutting back because the costs are too high.
A growing number of states have chosen to use their own state funds – separate from federal Medicaid matching funds – to offer more comprehensive health coverage to low-income residents who are ineligible for federal coverage. But when individual workers start making their own rules, it throws the whole system out of whack.
What Happens Next
The O’Keefe Media Group has reached out to Mack and the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services for comment.
As the story broke, Nevada’s Republican Governor Joe Lombardo quickly responded with an official statement on social media. He wrote:
“My office is aware of the allegations of misconduct stemming from a recent viral video. I want to assure Nevadans that this incident will be thoroughly investigated. Furthermore, if the investigation determines that an unlawful act has been committed, we will seek prosecution to the fullest extent of the law. All state employees must follow state and federal law — period. The State of Nevada has zero tolerance for criminal conduct.”
— Governor Joe Lombardo (@JosephMLombardo) May 29, 2025
This is exactly the kind of strong response conservatives want to see. Lombardo isn’t making excuses or downplaying the situation. He’s promising a real investigation and potential prosecution if laws were broken.
What Conservatives Can Do
First, demand answers from Nevada officials. Did Mack act alone or is this bigger? How much money was involved? What’s being done to fix it?
Second, use this as ammunition in the bigger fight for limited government. When agencies get too big and powerful, this is what happens. Workers start thinking they run the show instead of serving the public.
Third, support investigations into similar problems in your own state. If it’s happening in Nevada, it’s probably happening everywhere.
The bottom line is simple. Government workers need to follow the law, not make it up as they go. When they don’t, it’s time to clean house.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
