We cannot fully address the nation’s youth mental health crisis if DACA recipients and children in immigrant families are left out of the solutions. Under current law, immigrants with legal permanent resident (LPR) status must wait five years before being able to access mental health care through critical supports like Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Individuals with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status are almost entirely barred from access to mental health coverage through Medicaid, CHIP, and Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace coverage.

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