TL/DR –
Twenty-one Democratic attorneys general are suing the Trump administration over a new policy that denies people living illegally in the U.S. access to Head Start, as well as certain types of health care and housing assistance. The attorneys are arguing that the changes endanger healthcare and early education for millions of children and their parents, many of who are US citizens. The Trump administration asserts that the law has always prohibited non-citizens from receiving these services, and the new interpretation will save taxpayers $40 billion.
The Trump Administration’s New Policy Faces Legal Challenge
The Trump administration’s latest policy, which prevents illegal immigrants from accessing certain types of health care, housing assistance, and the Head Start program, is being challenged by a coalition of 21 Democratic attorneys general. The administration insists the rule change will save $40 billion, but critics argue it imperils healthcare and early childhood education for millions, including U.S. citizens. The Democratic AGs have lodged a lawsuit requesting a federal judge to block this rule change.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, leading the litigation, stated: “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 AGs argue that checking citizenship might be too onerous for some smaller service providers, risking closure to avoid punishment for accidentally violating the new rules. Nevertheless, the Trump administration maintains that noncitizens have always been barred from such services.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated that the rule change would “restore integrity to federal social programs, enforce the rule of law, and protect vital resources for the American people.”
Advocates say it remains unclear how many people would lose services under the new rules, which potentially halt services in households of mixed immigration status. The Health and Human Services department estimates that Head Start would see an estimated $374 million redirected nationally, available to other Americans.
The moves are part of Trump’s ongoing immigration crackdown, which includes more stringent border controls and aggressive detention and deportation of illegal immigrants. Trump is also seeking to remove birthright citizenship from children born to many immigrant families who currently qualify for programs like Head Start or community healthcare.
The attorneys general, opposing the new policy, stated: “For the first time, millions of people are facing a new demand before they can access the nation’s most essential programs: ‘Show me your papers.'” Joining New York in the lawsuit are the attorneys general of 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.
Many of these attorneys general have also sued the Trump administration over other contentious issues, such as federal funding cuts, withheld research grants, student visa changes, and attempts to end birthright citizenship.
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