Article: "DACA Physicians Serve on COVID-19 Front Lines While Awaiting Court Ruling"

Manuel Bernal, MD, a second-year medical resident at Advocate Christ Medical Center and a DACA recipient.
Credit: Taylor Glascock and aamc.org

"The possible reversal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which is in the hands of the Supreme Court, could sideline nearly 200 medical students and residents amidst a pandemic and physician shortages.

The idea of [DACA] being revoked or ended is kind of terrifying, especially with this current pandemic. It is frustrating that I could be needed by my country so much, but not enough to be wanted.

            - Manuel Bernal, MD
              Second-year emergency medicine resident at Advocate Christ Medical Center

Bernal is one of an estimated 200 medical students and residents who have been able to pursue careers in medicine because of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which President Barack Obama put in place in 2012 to provide some protections to undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children. DACA recipients are authorized to work in the United States.

The Trump Administration moved to rescind DACA in 2017 - a decision currently being reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court... The Supreme Court's ruling is expected to be announced any day."

Click here to read the full article, and to hear the stories of Dr. Bernal and three other current medical students and residents who are also DACA recipients.

(All credit for this post and article is attributed to aamc.org)