A group of 21 lawyers has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration regarding a February executive order aimed at removing immigrants without legal status from various social services programs.
This legal action stems from the changes made to federal service access requirements under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA), which were revised by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other departments on July 10th.
New York Attorney General Leticia James is leading a coalition to challenge these policies, joined by officials from states including Wisconsin, Maine, Nevada, and others.
James’s office pointed out that these new rules were implemented with minimal public notice and disregard for their real-life impacts, impacting not just undocumented immigrants, but also some legally present individuals like those on student visas or temporary work permits.
Additionally, the Attorney General highlighted concerns that even U.S. citizens and lawful residents could face service denial, especially as many low-income people often lack government-issued IDs.
The White House has not yet responded to requests for comments on this matter.
The February executive order, titled “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders,” claims that current social service practices contradict the principles established in the PRWORA.
According to Title IV of PRWORA, immigrants without legal status are not supposed to rely on public resources and the government should work to eliminate incentives for illegal immigration.
President Trump emphasized in his order that his administration is committed to enforcing the law, ensuring taxpayer dollars are not wasted, and protecting benefits for U.S. citizens in need, including those with disabilities and veterans.
The Trump administration is also planning a significant deportation effort, with U.S. immigration officials increasing their activities in local hospitals, churches, and workplaces. Additionally, a law signed on July 4th aims to bolster immigration enforcement funding while cutting state Medicaid resources for immigrants who lack legal status.
