DACA recipients offered new health care opportunities

For 14 years, immigrants covered by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) legislation were left without federal protection or regulations allowing enrollment in legally mandated public or private health insurance plans. on affordable care. President Joe Biden intends to remedy this omission on Friday, May 10, when he approves the extension of these policies to more than 100,000 DACA recipients.

The United States is home to more than 530,000 DACA recipients, commonly known as Dreamers, according to national statistics. New York City is home to 35,000 DACA recipients, 81% of whom are currently in the workforce.

“Nearly 12 years ago, President Obama and I announced the DACA program to allow our young people to live and work in the only country they call home,” Biden said in a public speech. “Since then, DACA has provided more than 800,000 Dreamers with the opportunity to work legally, pursue an education, and use their immense talents to make our communities better and stronger.

“I am proud of the contributions Dreamers make to our country and am committed to providing them with the support they need to succeed. I have already directed the Department of Homeland Security to take all appropriate measures to “preserve and strengthen” DACA. And that’s why…we’re taking this historic step to ensure that DACA recipients have the same access to health care through the Affordable Care Act as their neighbors.

This new opportunity will be available only to those who wish to obtain services through a Health Insurance Marketplace plan or a state-run Basic Health Program (BHP) for lawfully present non-citizens. New York is one of two states that implemented this measure; The state’s application for BHP was approved on March 1, 2024 and will remain in effect for five years, from April 1, 2024 to December 31, 2028.

While this development is a major victory for various DACA recipients, it will not enable enrollment in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIPS). Still, Friday’s signing is seen as a victory for immigration reform advocates.

“I commend the Biden-Harris Administration for this latest effort to support immigrant families by expanding affordable, quality health care coverage to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients,” the Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) of Harlem, Washington Heights, and the Bronx said in a statement.

“Our work (on May 10) to support Dreamers will have resounding implications for many years to come, (in) keeping our communities and local economies strong. I will never give up my fight to ensure Dreamers receive permanent status and a path to citizenship, and I will remain committed to working with President Biden and my colleagues to protect DACA and provide all young immigrants with opportunities and support they need to succeed,” added Espaillat. .

As the first Dominican American to serve in the House of Representatives, Espaillat has been a strong advocate for a progressive approach to changing U.S. immigration policy, calling for the rejection of the many repeals called for by Republicans.

Despite the large number of people in the United States covered by DACA, certain requirements of the law prevent many people from receiving designated status. Those seeking this status must have arrived in the United States before their 16th birthday and before June 15, 2007; be under 31 years old on June 15, 2012 (i.e. under 41 years old in 2022); be currently enrolled in school, have completed high school or its equivalent, or be a veteran; and had no legal status as of June 15, 2012.

Former President Donald Trump unsuccessfully attempted to end DACA. A 2024 re-election campaign strategy includes campaign staff reiterating their previous assertions, made during their time in the Oval Office, that DACA policies are harmful to the average American worker.

In an article on now health care for illegal immigrants. This is unfair and unsustainable; and Joe Biden’s handouts to illegal immigrants are particularly devastating to Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, and union workers who are forced to see their jobs and public resources stolen by people who entered our country illegally.

“President Trump will put America and American workers first. He will seal the border, end the invasion, and expand economic opportunities for American citizens, not illegal aliens.

The legality of DACA is under scrutiny in ongoing cases in Texas and New Jersey. Observers believe this case will soon be brought before the Supreme Court.

“Even as we celebrate this victory, we must also remember that politically motivated attacks on DACA continue, that DACA recipients remain in uncertainty, and that the health and well-being of our communities have suffered as a result. “, Kica Matos, President of the National Immigration Law. Center, said in a statement.

More than 25.6 million Americans are uninsured, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. As prescription drugs and medical prices skyrocket, hundreds of thousands of people are forced to choose between food and medical care every day. Federal figures show that most do without the latter. “The Biden-Harris Administration is taking a bold step toward equity and inclusiveness in access to health care by ensuring that approximately 100,000 DACA recipients can enjoy the peace of mind and security that “brings access to health care,” said Mayra Macias, executive director of Building Back Together. “By expanding health care options for DACA recipients, President Biden is reaffirming that health care is a fundamental right. »