Senate Republicans are criticizing President Joe Biden’s decision to open Obamacare enrollment to illegal aliens in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. They argue that this move is not only unjust but also economically unsustainable for millions of American citizens. Last week, Biden’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finalized a rule to allow DACA illegal aliens to enroll in Obamacare, costing taxpayers about $300 million annually. Senators Marsha Blackburn, Mike Lee, J.D. Vance, and Kevin Cramer called the plan unsustainable for working and middle-class Americans, especially amid record numbers of illegal immigrants entering the country.
They expressed concerns about the implications of providing free healthcare coverage to immigrants while American taxpayers already shoulder significant costs for illegal aliens’ medical expenses. The Senators have requested details from HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra on the number of DACA illegal aliens eligible for Obamacare, the associated costs, and whether similar plans will be extended to illegal alien relatives. They also questioned if Obamacare will be offered to the approximately 10 million illegal immigrants who are not part of the DACA program.
Furthermore, American taxpayers are already burdened with subsidizing over $18.5 billion annually in medical costs for illegal aliens residing in the U.S. This policy shift comes at a time when the economy is facing challenges such as rising inflation, slowing job growth, and high unemployment rates. The Senators emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in the implementation of this new rule.
