A federal appeals court has ruled in favor of the Biden administration, paving the way for individuals enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to access Affordable Care Act benefits, Breitbart reported.
The Biden administration has been granted the authority to open ACA benefits, commonly known as Obamacare, to individuals enrolled in the DACA program following a U.S. Court of Appeals decision this week.
The decision overturns a preliminary injunction issued earlier this month by District Judge Daniel Traynor, which temporarily blocked the administration's plan to enroll DACA participants in Obamacare.
The appeals court granted a stay on the district court's order, allowing the program to proceed while the case is pending. In the court order, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit set a timeline for further responses and replies from both sides, signaling that legal arguments will continue over the coming weeks.
The ruling comes after President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris announced in May their intent to extend ACA coverage to DACA recipients. The DACA program, initially introduced by former President Barack Obama through an executive order, has provided deportation protections to over a million illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.
As a result of the stay, DACA recipients will be eligible to enroll in Obamacare plans nationwide, including in the 18 states that sued to block the initiative. These states — led by Kansas and joined by Alabama, Florida, Missouri, Texas, and others — argue that the policy imposes undue financial burdens on taxpayers.
According to prior cost estimates, if approximately 100,000 DACA recipients enroll in Obamacare, the program could cost American taxpayers about $300 million annually. Other analyses suggest the financial impact could climb as high as $2.8 billion yearly.
The case has also revived a long-standing debate over the inclusion of illegal immigrants in federal benefit programs. Critics recall Obama's 2012 State of the Union address, in which he said illegal immigrants would not qualify for Obamacare. During that address, Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., infamously interrupted by shouting, "You lie!"
The lawsuit, Kansas v. United States, remains under review in the U.S. District Court of North Dakota.
Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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