Durbin Applauds Biden Administration Announcement to Expand Health Care Access for DACA Recipients

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today applauded the Biden Administration’s announcement of a final rule that will expand health care eligibility to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients.

Under the final rule, approximately 100,000 DACA recipients will become eligible to enroll in Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance exchanges.

“This rule is life-changing for thousands of DACA recipients who are American in every way – except for their immigration status. Dreamers contribute to our communities as teachers, nurses, police officers, and in many other foundational roles, and they ought to have access to resources and opportunities to grow and thrive, including health care. I applaud the Biden Administration for this move,” said Durbin.

Brought to the United States as children and having met certain education or work requirements to obtain DACA, these young people have lived in America since they were children, built their lives here, and are American in every way except for their immigration status. However, under current law, there is often no chance for them to ever become citizens and fulfill their potential.

Durbin first introduced the Dream Act to protect Dreamers in 2001. This bipartisan legislation would allow Dreamers to earn lawful permanent status if they undergo rigorous background checks and meet certain education or work requirements. The Dream Act was also included in the 2013 comprehensive immigration reform bill that Durbin coauthored as part of the “Gang of Eight” – made up of four Democrats and four Republicans. The 2013 bill passed the Senate on a strong bipartisan vote of 68-32, but the Republican leadership of the House of Representatives refused to consider it. Over the years, Senate Republicans have filibustered the Dream Act at least five times.

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