Biden Supports Free Coronavirus Tests And Vaccines For Undocumented Immigrants

Since the start of the COVID-19, or the novel coronavirus pandemic, the country has taken a severe economic hit due to the job loss created as a result of the viral outbreak. Because of mass unemployment, many Americans are now scared for what this means for their health insurance coverage. A few weeks ago, presidential candidate Joe Biden released his $775 billion plan for caregivers and essential workers impacted by the spread of COVID-19. At a recent virtual event, the former vice president explained that he supports more free services including tests and potential vaccines for marginalized groups like undocumented immigrants.

“Every person in the country, whether they’re documented or undocumented, should have access to a vaccine, if and when it occurs, should have access to testing and treatment and hospitalization if it relates to the virus,” he said in his speech at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) Joint Virtual Convention. “And that should occur, period. It’s in the interest of everyone that everyone be taken care of, and everyone should be able to be eligible for that.”

Biden went on to expand that he believes that the free services should not be limited to COVID-19, but permanently to help immigrants transition including expanding protections under the Affordable Care Act so they have the option of buying private insurance if needed. “If they are working in the United States of America and they are paying taxes, they should have access to health care,” he explained. “They should have access to what everybody else has access to.”

As far as immigration, The Hill reports that Biden’s campaign has promised that “there will not be another foot of [any] wall constructed in my administration” and that he will not confiscate private land to build the barrier.