America needs commonsense immigration policies that work for our country and align with our values of shared responsibility, unity and fairness. Making sure that everyone has access to health care must be a central pillar in fixing our immigration system.

The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) influences policy, mobilizes communities, and strengthens programs and organizations to improve the health of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. We believe in health justice and work with community advocates, public health leaders and policymakers to generate policy and systems changes that benefit our communities at the national, state and local levels.

On June 15, 2012, the Obama Administration announced a new initiative, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), allowing certain undocumented youth to qualify for “deferred action” status. Although this status does not provide a path to lawful permanent residency, it does grant a temporary suspension of deportation proceedings and enables grantees to gain work authorization.

Good health begins before we are born and can last a lifetime. Likewise, health disparities can begin even before birth. Disparities in access and utilization of health care exist for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) women and infants, but do not completely explain disparities in outcomes. Issues such as quality of care, access to culturally and linguistically appropriate services, and women’s health across the lifespan also have a significant impact on the health of mothers and babies.

Good health begins before we are born and can last a lifetime. Likewise, health disparities can begin even before birth. Disparities in access and utilization of health care exist for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) women and infants, but do not completely explain disparities in outcomes. Issues such as quality of care, access to culturally and linguistically appropriate services, and women’s health across the lifespan also have a significant impact on the health of mothers and babies.

Health care reform will provide coverage to countless uninsured and underinsured Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AAs and NHPIs). Nearly one in seven Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are uninsured.

In March 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law historic health care reform, a combination of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148) and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-152). These new laws will provide 32 million currently uninsured individuals with health insurance coverage, make health care more affordable, and improve the quality of health care provided.