The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program began in 2012 and has allowed more than 800,000 people to remain in the US. Since 2009, LWVUS has lobbied in favor of permanent protections and a path to citizenship. They emphasize:
DACA recipients are considered “lawfully present” in the US, but DACA does not provide lawful status or a pathway to citizenship.
DACA recipients who pay taxes in the US are ineligible for federally funded health coverage, including Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance Marketplaces. As of 2021, an estimated 34,000 work in health care. This may change soon.
LWVUS: Update on DACA recipients