DACA kicked in the teeth again - Immigration America

The Trump led “efficiency” machine is at it again, this time with an anti-immigrant focus.

DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients have received another “kick in the teeth“, courtesy President Trump.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid have proposed to remove aliens in DACA status from the list of those eligible for ACA (Affordable Care Act) insurance coverage.

On March 10, the centers announced the “2025 Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Proposed Rule”. See the full proposed rule here:

https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2025-marketplace-integrity-and-affordability-proposed-rule

Briefly, the rule proposes to remove DACA status aliens as being “lawfully present” in the United States. If they are not lawfully present in the United States, then they would not be eligible for coverage under the ACA.

Why do this when there is absolutely no need? Why do this to beneficiaries who are paying a medical insurance premium, oftentimes at market rates, for medical coverage? Isn’t it better for the nation’s overall health to have more people covered by medical insurance, rather than less? Won’t more medical coverage lead to a greater America rather than a lesser one?

Simple answer: by putting the pressure on all immigrants, whether legal, illegal, or in limbo status – as with DACA – the Trump administration hopes that these aliens will simply go into hiding, or have life made so difficult for them and their families that they will self-deport.

Clearly, this administration has no sympathy at all for the DACA recipients – adults now – who were brought illegally to the USA as children by parents or relatives and had no say in their future at that time.

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, literally hangs by a thread. This administration is trying to cut that thread, strand by strand.

So, while this administration pardoned the J6 convicts, many of them who assaulted police officers on that fateful day at the US capitol, this administration has no hesitation in penalizing DACA recipients who have a spotless record.

Oh, the hypocrisy continues!

Farhad Sethna has practiced law for over 30 years. He was awarded his JD in 1990 and his MBA in 1991, both from the University of Akron. Since 1996, he has also been an adjunct professor of Immigration Law at the University of Akron, School of Law, in Akron, Ohio, where he wrote and continues to use his own immigration textbook. Attorney Sethna is a frequent speaker at Continuing Legal Education and professional development seminars on various immigration-related topics. His practice is limited to immigration and small business. He has won awards for excellence in teaching and for pro-bono service. With offices in Cuyahoga Falls, Akron and New Philadelphia, Ohio, Attorney Sethna represents clients in all types of immigration cases before federal agencies and the immigration courts nationwide. A private pilot, it is Farhad’s goal to fly to each of Ohio’s 88 county airports. Our number is: (330) 384-8000. Please send your general immigration questions to farhad@sethnalaw.com. We will try to answer as many questions as possible.