Empowering Latinx physicians, medical professionals and medical students through education, advocacy & health policy to support their efforts to eliminate health disparity, promote and optimize health and the quality of life for Latinx in California.
Supreme Court Ruling on DACA Case Gives Hope to Dreamers, but More Work Lies AheadSacramento, CA – Latinx Physicians of California is pleased that, on June 18, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected President Trump’s repeal of the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program, initially put in place under the Obama Administration in 2012.
DACA provides protection to young immigrants, otherwise known as “Dreamers” and who make up a valuable segment of our Latino community. We applaud the court’s decision to uphold policies which protect this population group living in this country and working to achieve their American dream.
This selected group of approximately 800,000 are valuable contributing members of our society, of which, 200,000 are believed to be in essential positions, working during this pandemic. According to recent reports from the Center for American Progress showing that an estimated 29,000 DACA recipients are frontline health care workers, out of which 8,900 are working in California and constitute a significant proportion of our health workforce made up of physicians and medical students who are constantly putting their own health and safety in jeopardy to serve all Californians.
While this gives Dreamers continued hope, we call on Congress to move forward in finding long-term solutions and protections for residents that have known no other home than our United States of America. We also call on DHS and USCIS to comply with the Supreme Court’s decision nearly one month ago and immediately begin processing DACA applications.
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