LOS ANGELES – The Biden administration’s new rule granting recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) eligibility for health care insurance will go into effect today.

Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund), issued the following statement on the new rule that allows DACA recipients to enroll in qualified health plans through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance marketplace:

“Today’s rule is long overdue.  Making health care available to all DACA recipients is of significant benefit to every American — by reducing the use of expensive emergency care and by increasing the ability to mitigate public health concerns.  This step is particularly appropriate following a pandemic during which immigrants of all statuses proved themselves absolutely essential to the very survival of our United States society.”