doi:10.7916/xnc9-q077Oral history interview with Marielena Hincapié, 2020Hincapié, Marielenaoral historiesmixed materialPresidents--United StatesHealth care reform--United StatesDetention of persons--Law and legislation--United StatesImmigration enforcement--United StatesIllegal immigration--Law and legislation--United StatesChildren of undocumented immigrants--Legal status, laws, etc.--United StatesUnited States Emigration and immigrationHincapié, MarielenaObama, BarackNational Immigration Law Center (U.S.)Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (U.S.)United StatesUnited States. Department of Health and Human ServicesUnited States. Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009Patient Protection and Affordable Care ActMarilena Hincapié reflects on her interaction with the Obama administration during her tenure as executive director of the National Immigration Law Center (NILC). She goes over her career up until her arrival at NILC, establishing contact with the Obama administration due to the Affordable Care Act and the NILC's interest in working with Congress to ensure immigrant access to healthcare. She explains how she worked with the Department of Health and Human Services as well as with the White House in passing the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act in 2009, and evaluates the Obama administration and the Department of Homeland Security's increase of detention and deportation for undocumented immigrants. Hincapié explains the NILC and its role in working on policy that affects immigrants, advocating for them, and connecting them with relevant resources and the formation of the United We Dream Network financially sponsored by the NILC. She discusses some of the history of the DREAM (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Act leading to the implementation process for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) in 2012 and DAPA (Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents) in 2014, as well as her own role defending both. She discusses conversations on perceiving immigration as something to be criminalized or as a strength to the country, as well as Arizona's SB 1070 and other similar state legislation, representation and identity politics, RILR v. Johnson, and the state of diversity in the United States