Illinois Immigrants and Obamacare

 Posted on January 12, 2014 in Immigration

Reuters recently reported that there are concerns among Latinos and other immigrant communities that signing up for healthcare under Obamacare may bring increased inquiries into whether those that have signed up are legally residing in the United States.

Most on both sides of the aisle agree that the success of Obama’s healthcare law depends on how many people sign up for the program.The Obama Administration has made a substantial effort to bring Latinos into the fold, and many pundits agree that Latinos are key to the success of the Affordable Care Act. Not only are Latinos in the United States younger than the population as a whole – which means they are healthier and as a group are considered net contributors – but there are roughly 10.2 million Latinos in total that could be signed up for new insurance plans.

Although well over 900,000 previously uninsured Latinos adults under 25 now have insurance through the expansion of some health insurance plans, enrollment across the country has not been as high as hoped for. In California, for example, roughly 13 percent of the marketplace’s new members are Latino.

Effect on Immigration Law Enforcement?

Some families with mixed immigration status fear that the government will use the information that must be provided on the healthcare marketplace website for immigration proceedings. Some Latino families, for example, have one spouse that is a U.S. citizen and one spouse that is undocumented. There are many other instances where children of undocumented individuals have legal status, but the parents do not. Should these families provide the federal government with information online?

For its part, United States Immigration Customs Enforcement has stated that they will not use the information provided on the marketplace to track undocumented individuals living in the U.S. In the document provided, ICE policy directly states that information about individuals or members of their household that is obtained to determining eligibility for such healthcare coverage cannot be used for pursuing a civil immigration enforcement action against any individuals or household members.

If you or someone you know has questions regarding the impact that applying for healthcare in the new marketplace will have on your immigration status, reach out to a Dupage County immigration attorney today. At Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices works with residents in DuPage and many surrounding communities. We have over 34 years of experience and are here to ensure you know and understand your rights under this law as it evolves and grows.