Biden Admin Gives Health Benefits to DACA Migrants

Let’s be honest: if the Biden Administration could find a way to give health benefits to your pet goldfish, they probably would. But today’s focus is more pressing—healthcare for DACA migrants. This is the latest twist in the ongoing saga where the executive branch exercises its authority in immigration and healthcare policy. The changes in policy are significant, controversial, and worth your attention, so buckle up.

The DACA Program: A Quick Refresher

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was first announced in 2012 by none other than President Obama and Vice President Biden. In essence, this program provides stability and opportunities to over 800,000 “Dreamers” who were brought to the United States as children.

Biden’s Push for Citizenship and Health Coverage

Fast forward to today, President Biden is hell-bent on creating a pathway to citizenship for these DACA recipients. He has strongly urged Congress to take action, though that request has somewhat fallen on deaf ears. Meanwhile, the Administration has taken steps to protect and fortify DACA, including pushing for expansions in health coverage.

Health Coverage – The Bold Move

The Department of Health and Human Services intends to classify DACA recipients as “lawfully present” for the purpose of healthcare coverage. This classification will grant approximately 100,000 previously uninsured DACA recipients access to Affordable Care Act (ACA) health coverage, potentially with financial assistance.

And no, we’re not joking—Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, leading a lawsuit against this move, claims that this reclassification is illegal. “The administration is illegally redefining DACA recipients as ‘lawfully present’ in the U.S.,” he says.

What’s Next?

If everything goes as planned, the controversial rule will take effect in November, allowing DACA recipients to apply for health insurance via the ACA marketplace. These Dreamers will qualify for the same benefits and tax breaks that U.S. citizens enjoy. The Biden administration rolled out a directive permitting these migrants to access tax breaks when signing up for coverage.

The Skeptics and the Believers

Naturally, this isn’t sitting well with everyone. Red state attorneys general are firing back with lawsuits, arguing that DACA recipients can’t be defined as “lawfully present.” On the flip side, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has highlighted the benefits for Dreamers and their role in the community. “Dreamers are a vital part of our community,” he emphasized.

Why You Should Care

So, why is this important? For starters, it’s a significant policy shift with implications for healthcare, immigration, and national politics. It also raises questions about the limits and role of executive authority. Whether you see it as a compassionate move or an overreach of power, it’s a policy change that will affect a vast number of people and could set a precedent for future executive actions.

Fifteen states file federal lawsuit against Biden admin over rule expected to allow 100K DACA immigrants to enroll next year in Affordable Care Act's health insurance. https://t.co/s28BpdFaDk pic.twitter.com/3wlcSXbxCt

— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) August 9, 2024

Maybe next, they’ll start offering benefits to everyone who ever set foot in the country, but for now, it’s the Dreamers getting the golden ticket. Stay tuned, because the political battle is far from over. Your tax dollars and national policy are on the line.