Federal Judge Blocks DACA Recipients from Accessing Obamacare Health Coverage in North Dakota

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A federal judge has blocked the Biden administration’s attempt to extend Obamacare coverage to DACA recipients in 19 states.

At a Glance

  • U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor ruled against allowing DACA recipients access to Affordable Care Act coverage
  • The decision affects 19 Republican-led states that sued to block the policy
  • Judge Traynor said the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services overstepped its authority
  • The ruling could leave thousands of DACA recipients without affordable health insurance options

Federal Judge Halts Obamacare Extension for DACA Recipients

In a significant blow to the Biden administration’s immigration policies, a federal judge in North Dakota has blocked a rule that would have allowed Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients to access health coverage under the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare. U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor sided with Kansas and 18 other Republican-led states in their lawsuit against the federal government, arguing that the administration’s move was unlawful and could potentially incentivize illegal immigration.

The ruling applies only to the 19 states involved in the lawsuit, which include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. This decision leaves the rule in effect for other states, creating a patchwork of healthcare access for DACA recipients across the country.

Legal Reasoning and State Reactions

Judge Traynor’s decision hinged on the interpretation of the term “lawfully present.” He ruled that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) had overstepped its authority by altering the definition to include DACA recipients. This interpretation aligns with the arguments presented by the plaintiff states, who contended that Congress never intended for DACA recipients to be eligible for ACA benefits.

“Congress never intended that illegal aliens should receive Obama care benefits.” – Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a vocal critic of the Biden administration’s immigration policies, praised the ruling. The CMS, meanwhile, is reviewing the court’s decision but has refrained from commenting on the ongoing litigation. This legal setback for the administration comes as part of a broader pattern of judicial challenges to its immigration and healthcare initiatives.

Impact on DACA Recipients

The ruling could have significant consequences for thousands of DACA recipients in the affected states, potentially leaving them without affordable health insurance options. Prior to this policy change, DACA recipients were largely barred from government-funded health insurance, often relying on job-based coverage, state programs, or community health clinics for their medical needs.

“Today, we prevented yet another attempt by the Biden Administration to spend our hard-earned tax dollars on radically unpopular policies that put illegal aliens ahead of” – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton

In Texas alone, approximately 90,000 DACA recipients could have benefited from the federal guidance. Immigration advocacy groups argue that access to health care would help reduce disparities faced by DACA recipients, many of whom have lived in the United States since childhood and consider it their home.

Political Implications and Future Outlook

The DACA program, established by President Obama in 2012, protects undocumented immigrants who arrived as children from deportation and grants them work authorization. However, its future remains uncertain amid ongoing legal challenges and political debates. The current ruling adds another layer of complexity to the already contentious issue of immigration and healthcare policy in the United States.

As the Biden administration grapples with this setback, the Department of Health and Human Services is reviewing the decision and its potential impact. With the 2024 presidential election on the horizon, the fate of DACA recipients and their access to healthcare is likely to remain a pivotal issue in the national political discourse.

Sources:

  1. Federal judge blocks Obamacare coverage for DACA recipients in 19 states
  2. Federal judge blocks rule that would have given DACA recipients access to Affordable Care Act coverage
  3. US judge blocks Biden healthcare rule for DACA immigrants in some states
  4. Judge Blocks Biden Admin From Giving DACA Recipients Obamacare

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