A coalition of 21 Democratic attorneys general has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in response to its efforts to restrict access to federal health and safety net programs for undocumented immigrants.
The lawsuit, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, follows announcements from several federal agencies indicating that unauthorized immigrants would no longer be eligible for over a dozen health and education programs, including Head Start, an early education initiative for low-income children. Administration officials have stated that these changes aim to reserve federal benefits for American citizens.
The states involved in the lawsuit argue that the new regulations have already caused significant disruptions and that service providers may have difficulty verifying the citizenship status of all beneficiaries. They claim that the administration's actions could lead to the "collapse of some of the nation’s most vital public programs" and may result in citizens being denied benefits if they do not possess government-issued identification.
In a statement, James expressed concern, stating, "These programs work because they are open, accessible and grounded in compassion. Now, the federal government is pulling that foundation out from under us overnight, jeopardizing cancer screenings, early childhood education, primary care and so much more."
The White House has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the lawsuit.
This month, the Trump administration expanded the definition of programs qualifying as federal public benefits, thereby further limiting access for unauthorized immigrants. The Department of Health and Human Services has declared that undocumented immigrants will no longer be able to utilize services from community behavioral health clinics or programs supporting mental health and substance abuse. Additionally, the Education Department announced the end of subsidies for undocumented immigrants enrolled in career, technical, and adult education programs, while the Labor Department has limited unauthorized immigrants' access to workforce development grants.
While unauthorized immigrants typically do not qualify for federal benefits such as Social Security or food stamps, hospitals are mandated to provide emergency care regardless of a patient's immigration status and can receive reimbursements through Medicaid. Some states have established their own programs to extend certain benefits to undocumented immigrants.
In New York, state officials have indicated that community health centers and family planning clinics could be forced to close if they cannot verify their patients’ immigration status and consequently lose federal funding. They also noted that Head Start providers have warned they may struggle to screen individuals for immigration status.
The attorneys general argue that the administration acted unlawfully by implementing these changes without adhering to the necessary rule-making process, and they contend that the administration failed to fully consider the "devastating impacts" of these new mandates on the states involved.
The lawsuit includes attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.
President Trump has consistently maintained that federal benefits should be reserved for American citizens, rather than what he refers to as "illegal aliens." Earlier this month, he signed a comprehensive domestic policy bill that included measures restricting federal benefits for certain immigrants. Under the new regulations, immigrants who are legally authorized to reside in the United States but are not green card holders or citizens will generally no longer be eligible for programs like Medicare, food stamps, or subsidized health insurance through marketplaces established by the Affordable Care Act.
Some changes will also impact U.S. citizens whose parents are undocumented. The new law will prevent citizen children from receiving the child tax credit if neither parent possesses a Social Security number, a shift from the previous eligibility that allowed these children to benefit regardless of their parents' status.