A coalition of more than 20 Democrat attorneys general is suing the Trump administration following a policy change from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that bars illegal immigrants from accessing a number of federally funded programs. The lawsuit, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, was filed in federal court and seeks to block the implementation of the new rules, characterizing them as unlawful and contrary to long-standing federal practice.
Attorneys general from states including California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Oregon, Maryland, and Arizona, along with Washington, D.C., joined the suit. The plaintiffs are asking the court to halt the rules through preliminary and permanent injunctions, vacate the policy changes, and prevent the federal government from using the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) to further restrict similar services in the future.
At issue is a July directive from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. outlining that illegal immigrants would no longer be eligible for certain federal health and social service programs. These include:
- Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics
- Community Mental Health Services Block Grant
- Head Start
- Substance use disorder and mental health programs administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Since 1998, under the Clinton administration, HHS had interpreted PRWORA — a 1996 law that generally bars illegal immigrants from accessing federal benefits — to allow certain services to be provided regardless of immigration status. The new Trump administration policy reverses that interpretation, with stricter enforcement of PRWORA’s original intent.
In a press release, Kennedy defended the rule change, stating, “For too long, the U.S. government has diverted hardworking Americans’ tax dollars to incentivize illegal immigration. This decision restores integrity to federal social programs and enforces the rule of law.”
Letitia James criticized the policy, arguing that it disrupts programs states have built over decades to serve all residents, including those in the country unlawfully.
“These programs work because they are open, accessible, and grounded in compassion,” James said. “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.”
James also accused the administration of using PRWORA as a “pretext” to restrict access to programs that states have historically funded and administered more broadly.
While the attorneys general claim the policy change harms state-level health and education systems, supporters of the rule argue that illegal immigrants were never intended to receive taxpayer-funded benefits under PRWORA, and that prior exceptions made by HHS were unlawful or lacked congressional authorization.
Polling data suggests the new HHS policy aligns with the views of a strong majority of American voters. According to an April 2025 poll conducted by the Center for Excellence in Polling, 70% of likely voters oppose allowing individuals who entered the country illegally to receive taxpayer-funded welfare benefits. This view spans party lines, with opposition from 75% of Republicans, 74% of Independents, and even 60% of Democrats. Similar majorities oppose illegal immigrants receiving food stamps (68%) or Medicaid (65%).
The survey’s authors noted that such widespread, bipartisan consensus is rare and reflects the public’s view that taxpayer-funded benefits should be reserved for citizens and legal immigrants.
The lawsuit marks another high-profile clash between state and federal authorities over immigration policy — a recurring theme under both Trump administrations. With the new rule set to go into effect later this year, the outcome of the case could significantly shape how social services are administered to noncitizens moving forward.
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Illegal means illegal. Doesn’t it?
Federal benefits for illegal aliens? What? Are these idiots crazy? Since when did it become a law that the USA must give anything to illegal aliens other than an assist out of the country they entered illegally? And it is time to end birth right citizenship as well. Everyone knows that was enacted for the slaves freed after a civil war in the USA. North against South (democrat party) in a disagreement about many things including slavery!
Dimwit nitwits need another carpet of voters beholding to them in this country. A Crock of Crap noted the carpet of past slaves are Done Picking Cotton! Oh that was so rich coming from someone who is prefectly happy to subjugate another class of people when her own race were the ones picking cotten in the past but she wants to make sure illegal aliens can do it! And by the way Crock of Crap came from a wealthy family not even middle class and I believe from another country entirely originally somewhere and as a past tense but she is a legal citizen and in congress pretending to be a real black in this country. Assumed the dialect and attitude quickly! Typical lying, misrepresenting DNC nitwit! Oh well! Part of the AOC dimwit nitwit squad!
Good!
Incentive to leave or not to come here.
This should end the “everything free in America” and puts
American Citizens First.
Yep, got to have the taxpayers send money to Mexicans. How about we just bill the Democrats who want to spend this money?
How about giving benefits to the citizens of OUR country? Giving benefits to non-citizens should have to be voted on by the whole population because they are the people that have to pay for it. Most of us feel like we are already being taxed to death.
Wow, wouldn’t it be nice if these idiots were as concerned about American citizens!! We cannot be keepers of the world’s population. We should be sympathetic but we MUST put American citizens FIRST.
It won’t happen, but all 20 should be impeached. Giving ANY benefits to someone in the country illegally is a criminal act.
Compassion has no place in the interpretation of the law. Compassion comes after the law is followed. How best to treat those who break our immigration laws is to return them to their point of origin and let them fill out the paperwork needed to get them in legally. Anything else is the collapse of the law and the failure to protect Americans citizens from those who are causing economic and mental depression.
Lie-beral Demonocrats are one big bunch of LOSERS !}}