Nearly two-thirds of all undocumented immigrants have lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years and nearly half are parents of minor children. Many immigrant households are composed of mixed status families where one or both parents are non-citizens and one or more children are citizens. Undocumented immigrant families face many challenges including the trauma of migration, adjusting to a new culture, fear, poverty, finding work and the inability to access social services. Currently, a patchwork of federal restrictions on Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the health care marketplaces established under the Affordable Care Act have barred access to health coverage for many immigrants in the United States. It is estimated that 47% of the country’s roughly 11 million undocumented immigrants are uninsured, compared with one-fourth of legally present immigrants and about one-tenth of American citizens. Advocates say the Coronavirus pandemic shows we all would be safer if everyone in the country had access to healthcare.

Pending Legislation: S.1660 - HEAL for Immigrant Families Act of 2021
Sponsor: Sen. Cory Booker (NJ)
Status: Senate Committee on Finance
Chair: Sen. Ron Wyden (OR)