The Biden administration announced a new rule that will allow tens of thousands of illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as minors and were protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to access health care through Obamacare. Currently, DACA recipients and other illegal immigrants were prohibited from accessing health care through the Affordable Care Act. The rule, set to go into effect just days before the 2024 presidential election, is expected to result in over 100,000 uninsured illegal immigrants gaining access to health insurance. This new rule makes modifications to the definition of “lawfully present” to allow DACA recipients to apply for coverage through HealthCare.gov and state-based marketplaces starting in November.
President Biden and Vice President Harris both issued statements in support of the rule, referring to DACA recipients as “Dreamers” and calling for them to be granted a pathway to citizenship. Biden has previously directed the Department of Homeland Security to preserve and fortify DACA, and now this rule allows DACA recipients to have access to the same health care benefits as their neighbors through Obamacare. However, both Biden and Harris recognize that DACA is a temporary solution and urge Congress to provide permanent protections and a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers.
The push for health care and citizenship for illegal immigrants has faced fierce opposition from Republicans. When Obamacare was introduced by President Obama, he was accused of giving health care to illegal immigrants. The Trump administration attempted to end DACA but was blocked by the Supreme Court in 2020. A lawsuit filed in 2021 is ongoing and has halted further enrollments in the program. Democrats and the Biden administration have pushed for broader amnesties for illegal immigrants, but have faced unified opposition from Republicans who reject granting a pathway to citizenship amid the ongoing crisis at the southern border.
The Biden administration has emphasized the need for additional funding and reforms to address the broken immigration system that enables the crisis at the southern border. They argue that the Trump-era policies that were in place need to be restored in order to end the crisis. Despite the administration’s efforts, Republicans have continued to oppose granting a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants and have rejected broader amnesties. The sentiment from both sides of the political aisle regarding the issue of illegal immigration remains divided, with Democrats advocating for more inclusive policies and Republicans pushing for stricter enforcement measures.
