A group of 21 attorneys general filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging an executive order issued in February that expels undocumented immigrants from several federal social service programs.

The measure affects various programs, including Head Start, an educational opportunity for low-income parents.

According to the attorneys general, the new policy, which went into effect on July 10, modifies the requirements for accessing services such as health care, education, and employment assistance. The change requires beneficiaries to undergo immigration checks, affecting even people with legal status, such as student visa holders, temporary workers, and exchange visitors.

New York Attorney General Letitia James is leading the lawsuit, along with her colleagues from Wisconsin, Maine, Nevada, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, and New Mexico. In a statement, James stressed that the new rules were imposed abruptly and without adequate public consultation, and warned that even US citizens and legal residents could be denied access to programs due to lack of official identification.

Trump limits public subsidies

The Trump administration defends its position, arguing that the executive order seeks to limit public subsidies to undocumented immigrants and eliminate incentives for irregular immigration. According to the White House, this measure is consistent with the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA), which states that undocumented immigrants should not rely on public resources to meet their needs.

President Trump has also strengthened deportation policies, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducting raids in various locations, including hospitals and workplaces, as efforts intensify to reduce Medicaid funding in states that support undocumented immigrants.