The following statement is from Jessica Azua, Immigration Justice Director of the Texas Organizing Project (TOP), in response to President Joe Biden announcing Thursday his administration will expand healthcare coverage for DACA recipients:
“This move from the Biden administration is as appreciated as it is needed. An estimated 47 percent of people likely eligible for DACA are uninsured, compared to 10 percent of U.S.-born people in their age group.
“Growing up in and contributing to our communities, DACA recipients’ access to healthcare is vital to our country’s future success. This critical expansion of affordable healthcare access through Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance exchanges will provide hundreds of thousands of DACA recipients and their family members with financial relief and added peace of mind.
“Also, to hear President Biden firmly state that healthcare is a right in his remarks is undoubtedly a step in the right direction for our movement. No matter one’s status, age, race, gender, or income, we all deserve accessible and affordable quality healthcare.
“Now we expect Biden to hold true to his word and ensure this new policy is widely publicized to DACA recipients and implemented in full. Additionally, we renew our call for him and his administration to do everything within their power to not only protect the DACA program from politically-motivated attacks, but provide a pathway to citizenship for all DACA recipients.”
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About Texas Organizing Project (TOP)
TOP organizes Black and Latino communities in Dallas, Harris, Bexar, and Fort Bend counties with the goal of transforming Texas into a state where working people of color have the power and representation they deserve. For more information, visit organizetexas.org.
This statement was sent out April 14, 2023.