Dem AGs sue White House to counter cuts to Head Start, Medicaid for immigrants
A coalition of 21 Democratic attorneys general is suing the Trump administration over a new policy that blocks people living illegally in the United States from accessing Head Start and certain types of health care and housing assistance.
The Democratic AGs say the changes imperil healthcare and early childhood education for millions of children and their parents, many of whom are U.S. citizens. Head Start serves more than 700,000 children and pregnant woman annually with programs designed to help prepare kids from low-income families to learn when they enter public schools.
"For decades, states like New York have built health, education, and family support systems that serve anyone in need," New York Attorney General Letitia James, a longtime Trump critic, said in announcing the lawsuit. "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. This is a baseless attack on some of our country's most effective and inclusive public programs, and we will not let it stand."
The AGs are asking a federal judge to block the rule change before anyone loses services. They argue that checking citizenship might be too onerous for some smaller service providers, prompting them to close rather than risk punishment for accidentally violating the new rules.
The Trump administration argues the law has always banned non-citizens from getting such services, and says the new interpretation will save taxpayers $40 billion. Many federal programs, including the one formerly known as food stamps, are already limited to citizens and legal residents only.
"For too long, the government has diverted hardworking Americans' tax dollars to incentivize illegal immigration,' Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a statement on July 10, the day the new approach was announced. "Today's action changes that ‒ it restores integrity to federal social programs, enforces the rule of law, and protects 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. Many of these programs do not currently ask for immigration status.
Head Start would see an estimated $374 million redirected nationally, which could be available to other Americans, according to the Health and Human Services department.
The moves are part of Trump's ongoing immigration crackdown, which has seen the borders tightened and more aggressive detention and deportation of people living in the United States without permission. Trump is also seeking to remove birthright citizenship from children born to many immigrant families who today qualify for programs like Head Start or community healthcare.
Joining New York in filing the lawsuit were 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.
Wrote the attorneys general: "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.'"
Many of the same attorneys general have also sued the Trump administration over federal funding cuts, withheld research grants, student visa changes, and the president's plan to end birthright citizenship.
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