Federal Judge Blocks Health Coverage for DACA Recipients

A federal judge in North Dakota has temporarily blocked a Biden administration rule that would have allowed DACA recipients to access healthcare under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor ruled that the regulation likely violates federal law prohibiting public benefits for individuals without legal immigration status, siding with 19 Republican-led states that argued the rule improperly redefined 'lawfully present'. Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach hailed the decision as a significant victory for the rule of law, asserting that Congress did not intend for illegal aliens to receive Obamacare benefits. The ruling affects nearly 50,000 DACA recipients in the involved states, including around 90,000 in Texas alone. The Biden administration's Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is reviewing the injunction but has not issued a formal comment on the ongoing litigation. Immigration advocacy groups argue that access to healthcare is crucial for addressing health disparities faced by DACA recipients.