Biden to Extend Obamacare Coverage to Immigrants with DACA Status

In a historic move, tens of thousands of DACA recipients will now have access to health care through the Affordable Care Act, thanks to a new federal rule announced by U.S. officials on Friday. This change will allow more than 500,000 Dreamers, who are protected from deportation and allowed to work legally in the United States, to obtain health coverage and subsidies starting in November.

President Biden expressed his support for Dreamers, stating, “I’m proud of the contributions of Dreamers to our country and committed to providing Dreamers the support they need to succeed.” This new rule will provide approximately 100,000 uninsured individuals with the opportunity to obtain health insurance.

The Biden administration’s decision to expand protections for younger undocumented immigrants comes amidst ongoing legal challenges to DACA. The program has faced threats from the Trump administration, but the Supreme Court intervened in 2020 to protect existing DACA recipients. However, a federal judge in Texas ruled in 2021 that new applicants could no longer receive protections under DACA.

Immigrant advocates and lawmakers, such as Representative Joaquin Castro of Texas, have long pushed for this change. Castro stated, “Today’s announcement is an important step forward to right that wrong,” emphasizing the significance of allowing DACA recipients to access affordable health care.

As the fate of DACA continues to be debated in the courts, this new rule marks a significant victory for Dreamers who have long been excluded from federal health insurance programs.