Around 100,000 immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children will now be eligible to receive health insurance following a new directive from President Joe Biden's administration.
The move, announced on Friday, allows participants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) to enroll in the Affordable Care Act's health insurance.
DACA recipients can apply for coverage starting in November and may qualify for financial assistance to help them purchase quality health insurance, the White House said in a statement.
President Barack Obama and then-Vice President Biden created the DACA policy in 2012, allowing certain undocumented immigrants who were brought to the country as children to receive protection from deportation and authorization to work legally.
The White House statement said that Biden continues to call on Congress to provide a pathway to citizenship to "Dreamers," a term used to refer to these types of undocumented immigrants.
"Today's rule also reinforces the President's enduring commitment to DACA recipients and Dreamers, who contribute daily to the strength and vitality of our communities and our country," the statement said.
The move does not go as far as Biden's initial plan to allow DACA recipients to apply for Medicaid. The decision was made after the administration received 20,000 comments on the proposal, senior officials said, per The Associated Press.
However, Biden's action does allow DACA recipients to buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act, which establishes marketplaces for purchasing private insurance.
Immigrants living in the U.S. are less likely to have health insurance, with more than a third of DACA recipients estimated to be without it, according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
Secretary of Health Xavier Becerra said on Thursday that when people lack health care insurance it can be financially burdensome.
"They incur higher costs and debts when they do finally receive care," Becerra said, per the AP. "Making Dreamers eligible to enroll in coverage will improve their health and well-being and strengthen the health and well-being of our nation and our economy."
Biden's action is expected to draw criticism from conservatives, who have been ramping up criticisms of his immigration policies ahead of the 2024 election.
His likely opponent in the election, the GOP's presumptive nominee Donald Trump, has been clear about his plans for a tougher approach.
During his time in office, Trump tried to end DACA but was blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
