Alondra: A DACA Nurse Providing Care Despite Barriers

Despite the many opportunities Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) has opened, recipients like Alondra still face barriers obtaining professional licenses. Under federal law, DACA recipients are not eligible to receive state or local public benefits, including professional licenses, by default. However, the statute authorizes states to enact laws offering eligibility for state and local benefits, including professional licenses, to DACA recipients and other individuals who are not “qualified” immigrants, nonimmigrants, or people paroled into the United States. As demand for nurses continues to outpace supply, DACA recipients play a vital role in the nursing workforce, even as federal law limits their opportunities and creates ongoing uncertainty about their future.