President Donald Trump's call to end residence security for the children of illegal immigrants by repealing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program could have wide-ranging implications for healthcare in immigrant communities, according to The Washington Post.
Insurance plans from ACA exchanges have only recently begun to take hold in these communities, and advocates believe the administration's recent actions will deter people from further interaction with the government out of fear they will be deported.
"It's not easy to overstate the level of fear and anxiety among immigrants and their families right now," said Matthew Lopas, a health policy attorney with the National Immigration Law. "Some people are afraid to leave their homes, some people are afraid to provide information to the government."
The administration recently dealt another blow to potential ACA enrollment after it announced the enrollment advertising budget would be cut by 90 percent next year. Advocates view advertising outreach as an essential step toward informing people of their eligibility for exchange plans.
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