Staff Reports
A federal judge has taken a sledgehammer to President Biden’s attempts to funnel Obamacare coverage to illegal migrants participating in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. This latest legal setback is just another chapter in what seems to be an ongoing saga of court defeats for the Biden administration’s immigration strategy.
In a recent ruling, U.S. District Judge Daniel M. Traynor granted a temporary stay to Kansas and 18 other states against a rule that would have enabled those dubbed “Dreamers” to receive healthcare coverage through the Affordable Care Act. The states argued that giving these illegal immigrants health insurance would encourage them to stick around longer, putting an additional strain on taxpayer-funded services like education and law enforcement. After all, it seems counterproductive to reward those who flout immigration laws with free healthcare while American citizens are left grappling with high premiums.
Judge Traynor pointed out that while the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) can decide if someone qualifies for lawful status, they can’t just toss congressional authority aside and redefine what it means to be “lawfully present.” It’s a classic instance of executive overreach that even the courts can’t ignore. Not surprisingly, Traynor was appointed by former President Trump, which might raise a few eyebrows among those who think judicial impartiality is akin to unicorns.
Kansas’s GOP Attorney General Kris Kobach wasted no time celebrating this legal victory, emphasizing that Congress never intended for illegal aliens to enjoy the perks of Obamacare. With two existing laws that prohibit such benefits, it seems like the Biden administration was steering the ship straight into the iceberg. However, thanks to strong resistance, they sank just short of their goal, and Biden’s Justice Department found itself on the losing end of this legal battle.
If I was an illegal, I'd be taking things seriously and realize the Biden bonanza (for them) is over. https://t.co/lmi65vPwEA
— Skip Press (@skippress) December 10, 2024
Biden’s grand plan to extend Obamacare to DACA recipients was unveiled back in May, with estimates indicating that around 110,000 undocumented migrants would sign up, costing taxpayers around $7 billion in deficits over the next decade. The administration’s ambitious aim to amend the definition of “lawfully present” in order to achieve this goal has been met with fierce pushback. This initiative reveals a troubling trend of redefining terms to bypass legal barriers—a hallmark of Biden’s approach to immigration policy.
As Trump prepares to reclaim the Oval Office in January, he has promised a no-nonsense immigration enforcement policy. This includes a hardline stance on deportation and the contentious issue of birthright citizenship. However, he has hinted at being willing to negotiate with Democrats on keeping Dreamers in the U.S., illustrating the complexity of addressing immigration reform amid a polarized political landscape.
Biden’s streak of courtroom losses continues, as this isn’t the first legal blow to his liberal immigration agenda. A previous ruling shot down his executive order aimed at creating a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants married to American citizens, showcasing the judiciary’s growing unwillingness to rubber-stamp questionable executive actions. Buckle up—this legal rollercoaster is far from over.
