ICE Clarifies That Information on Health Insurance Applications Will Not Be Used for Immigration Enforcement
WASHINGTON — On October 25, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that immigrant parents can enroll their children and other eligible family members in health care coverage programs without triggering immigration enforcement activity. The Affordable Care Act bars undocumented immigrants and individuals granted deferred action through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program from buying insurance through the health insurance marketplaces (also called “exchanges”) but allows their eligible family members — including U.S. citizen children — to apply. Below is a statement from Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center:
“Fear about deportation should never prevent an immigrant parent from purchasing affordable health care for his or her children. Unfortunately, advocates across the country have reported that this fear is a major barrier to enrolling citizen children in Obamacare. The clarification published today should provide sorely needed reassurance to immigrant families who may have been reluctant to sign up eligible family members for health insurance.
“Also, immigrants without documents should remember that when they apply on behalf of eligible family members, they will not be required to provide information about their own immigration status or to provide a Social Security number if they do not have one.
“In order to have a productive society, all individuals should have access to affordable, quality health care. While we hope this clarification will allay some of these fears, we will also continue to fight to ensure that all those living and working in the United States can purchase the affordable health insurance they need to protect themselves and their families.”
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Please here to see the memo clarification.