Statement Attributable to:
Susan R. Bailey, MD
President, American Medical Association

“The American Medical Association applauds today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision finding that the Trump Administration’s attempted rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was inadequate and invalid.

“Amid the COVID-19 pandemic that has underscored physician shortages and surging caseloads, DACA recipients have responded to the call by continuing to provide vital patient care. We are pleased that the Supreme Court has recognized that upholding a rollback of the DACA program would have reduced our nation’s health care capacity at a time when we can ill afford it.

“The AMA has opposed the administration’s decision to end the DACA program since it was announced in 2017, joining 32 other leading health organizations in an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in support of shielding individuals protected by the DACA program—including the nearly 30,000 DACA recipients who work as health care professionals across the U.S. We believe that the administration’s attempt to terminate the DACA program ignored these individuals’ enormous contributions to our country.

“Our country relies on the skills and experiences of the hundreds of active physicians, plus medical students and residents who depend on DACA for their eligibility to study, practice medicine and fill crucial gaps in patient care. During their careers, these highly skilled clinicians will care for and improve the lives of millions of Americans while helping to fulfill our goal of a diverse health care workforce that reflects the demographics of the patients we serve.”

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Editor’s note: The AMA has worked to highlight the physicians and medical students impacted by potential changes to the DACA program since 2016. More information on these efforts is available on our website and highlighted by AMA news.