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.