https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12...able-care-act/

A federal judge on Monday issued a court order temporarily blocking a Biden administration rule that would have granted some people brought into the country illegally as children access to health coverage under the Affordable Care Act, a decision that could affect tens of thousands of Texans.

The decision comes after Texas and 18 other states banded together to sue the federal government following recent guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services establishing a pathway for some Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients to enroll in health insurance plans.

The states argued that by allowing DACA recipients to benefit from subsidized health insurance and making them “lawfully present” in the health care system, they will want to stay in the country longer, causing states to spend more money on resources like education, health care and law enforcement. Immigration advocacy groups say access to health care will help alleviate the disparities DACA recipients face, such as high uninsured rates and unmet medical needs after years of delaying care.

Texas has roughly 90,000 DACA recipients eligible to sign up for health insurance under the recent federal guidance.