A significant legal development occurred this week as U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor in North Dakota issued a ruling blocking the Biden administration’s healthcare mandate that would have required 19 Republican-led states to provide health insurance coverage to immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally as children, commonly known as DACA recipients.
Judge Traynor’s decision, rendered on Monday, asserts that the rule introduced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in May likely contravenes federal law prohibiting public benefits for individuals lacking legal immigration status. This ruling comes in response to a lawsuit filed by these states in August, challenging the legality of the healthcare coverage requirement.
Traynor, appointed by former President Donald Trump, emphasized that the rule could encourage DACA recipients to remain in the U.S. unlawfully and impose significant financial burdens on state resources. “The court recognizes that Congress never intended for undocumented immigrants to access benefits under the Affordable Care Act,” stated Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, who is leading the lawsuit. He described the ruling as a “big win for the rule of law” on social media.
The National Immigration Law Center, representing DACA recipients who intervened in the case to defend the healthcare rule, expressed its disappointment and is currently evaluating its options for appeal.
Under the Affordable Care Act, the healthcare rule classified DACA participants as “legally present,” thereby allowing them access to essential health programs. However, opponents argue that since DACA recipients are not legally present due to their immigration status, they should not qualify for such benefits. Approximately 50,000 DACA recipients reside in the states involved in this lawsuit.
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program offers protections from deportation and work permits to immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children or overstayed their visas. With around 530,000 individuals currently enrolled in DACA, its future remains uncertain amid ongoing legal challenges.
This ruling reflects broader national debates surrounding immigration policy and healthcare access, with implications that could resonate through various states and communities across the nation.
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