Federal Judge Halts ACA Coverage Expansion for DACA Recipients in 19 States

The ruling blocks a Biden administration policy allowing DACA recipients access to Affordable Care Act benefits, citing legal and financial concerns.

U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor issued a preliminary injunction preventing DACA recipients in 19 states from accessing Affordable Care Act coverage.
The Biden administration's rule, introduced in May, sought to classify DACA recipients as 'lawfully present' for ACA eligibility, impacting approximately 147,000 individuals nationwide.
The 19 Republican-led states argued the rule violated federal laws prohibiting public benefits for individuals without legal immigration status and could impose financial burdens on states.
Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, leading the lawsuit, praised the decision as upholding the rule of law, while immigration advocates criticized it as harmful to DACA recipients' access to essential health care.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services stated it is reviewing the decision, while the injunction remains in effect as the case proceeds in federal court.