Deportations Could Be Hurting Obamacare Enrollment

How Deportations Could Be Hurting Obamacare Enrollment
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 22: A computer screen reads, 'Enroll by Dec. 23 for coverage starting as soon as Jan 1.' as agents from Sunshine Life and Health Advisors help people purchase health insurance under the Affordable Care Act at the kiosk setup at the Mall of Americas on December 22, 2013 in Miami, Florida. Tomorrow is the deadline for people to sign up if they want their new health benefits to kick in on the 1st of January. People have until March 31, to sign up for coverage that would start later. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 22: A computer screen reads, 'Enroll by Dec. 23 for coverage starting as soon as Jan 1.' as agents from Sunshine Life and Health Advisors help people purchase health insurance under the Affordable Care Act at the kiosk setup at the Mall of Americas on December 22, 2013 in Miami, Florida. Tomorrow is the deadline for people to sign up if they want their new health benefits to kick in on the 1st of January. People have until March 31, to sign up for coverage that would start later. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Nearly a third of uninsured Americans are Latino immigrants, but most have missed the deadline to sign up for 2014 health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Advocates say immigrants are reluctant to sign up because they fear they will inadvertently expose undocumented family members to federal immigration officials.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement blasted out a memo stating that immigration agents will not use health insurance information to track down undocumented immigrants for deportation. Still, with deportations hovering around record highs, it seems many mixed-status families aren’t willing to take the chance.

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