DACA stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. This is a program aimed at people who entered the United States illegally, but who were children when it happened. The DACA program gives them some protection from deportation.
For example, a two-year-old who was illegally brought to the United States by their parents 10 years ago may get protection from deportation as a 12-year-old. They are not necessarily going to be sent back to a “home” country that they can’t even remember.
Recently, President Joe Biden took action to increase the access that these children get to federal health insurance. This was announced on Friday, May 3, 2024. As a result, roughly 100,000 people in the DACA program will probably qualify for and enroll in health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.
Is the DACA program new?
No, the DACA program started back in 2012. The original goal was to provide deportation relief. In some cases, children who qualified for the program also received work permits. These actions gave them a chance to get an education or start a career in the United States since they had been brought to the country at such a young age.
The change, Biden says, is just to provide healthcare to these immigrants “just like all of us.” He pointed out that many people who started out in this program are now small business owners, teachers or nurses. Many of them have started families, getting married and having children. The government wants to provide these individuals with the necessary healthcare options.
Changes to immigration are always occurring, and it’s very important for those involved to keep an eye on these changes so that they understand their rights and legal options.