A group of 21 attorneys general filed a Monday lawsuit against the Trump administration over a February executive order that ousts migrants without legal status from social service programs.
Under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA), the U.S. departments of Health and Human Services, Education, Labor and Justice have reworked requirements to gain access to federal services effective July 10.
Many programs, including Head Start, an early-education opportunity for low-income parents, will ensure participants are subject to immigration verification.
New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) is leading the effort to combat new policies alongside colleagues from Wisconsin, Maine, Nevada, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota and New Mexico, in addition to other states.
“These rules took effect immediately or with little notice, bypassing public input and ignoring real-world consequences. The policies apply not just to undocumented immigrants, but also to some people with legal status, including student visa holders, temporary workers, and exchange visitors,” James’s office said in a Monday press release.
“In addition, the attorneys general warn that even U.S. citizens and lawful residents could be denied services, as many low-income individuals lack government-issued identification,” they added.
The White House did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment on the matter.
The February executive order — titled Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders — said current social service operations undermine the principles and limitations outlined by Congress in the PRWORA law.
Title IV of PRWORA says it is policy that migrants without legal status cannot “depend on public resources to meet their needs” and urges the government “to remove the incentive for illegal immigration provided by the availability of public benefits,” as written in a White House release.
“My Administration will uphold the rule of law, defend against the waste of hard-earned taxpayer resources, and protect benefits for American citizens in need, including individuals with disabilities and veterans,” President Trump wrote in the order.
The Trump administration pledged to undertake the largest mass deportation effort in the country’s history. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has acted on the initiative and increased raids in local hospitals, churches and places of employment.
The president also signed the “big, beautiful bill” into law on July 4, mandating a larger funding allotment for immigration enforcement efforts and cutting Medicaid funding for states that support migrants without legal status.
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