Judge Blocks Biden Rule Allowing DACA Recipients ACA Coverage in 19 States

A federal court ruling halts a Biden administration policy that sought to expand health insurance access for young immigrants under the Affordable Care Act.

U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor issued a preliminary injunction blocking a Biden administration rule allowing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients to enroll in ACA health plans in 19 Republican-led states.
The Biden administration's policy aimed to redefine DACA recipients as 'lawfully present' for ACA eligibility, potentially granting access to over 100,000 uninsured immigrants.
The lawsuit, led by Kansas and North Dakota, argued the rule violated existing laws barring ACA benefits for undocumented immigrants and placed administrative burdens on states.
The ruling does not appear to retroactively impact coverage already obtained by DACA recipients in the affected states, but future enrollment is paused pending further litigation.
Immigration and healthcare advocates criticized the decision, emphasizing the ongoing challenges faced by DACA recipients, whose legal status remains uncertain as Trump's second term approaches.