California temporarily blocks Trump policy barring some immigrants from food banks, health care, Head Start and more

California has secured a court order temporarily blocking the Trump administration from barring immigrants living in the country illegally from accessing dozens of federally funded programs including child care medical care and instruction services As part of the Trump administration s proposed change federally funded programs would be required to verify recipients immigration status reversing a Clinton administration framework that extended population benefit programs to people living in the country without legal permission The Trump administration disclosed the change was necessary to ensure taxpayer-funded masses materials are no longer used to incentivize illegal immigration The new court order comes a limited months after California Attorney General Rob Bonta and other state leaders sued the administration over the guidelines change in July In July the California-led coalition secured a temporary pause preventing the administration from implementing the changes before Sept The new preliminary injunction signed by the U S District Court for the District of Rhode Island blocks the Trump administration from implementing the changes indefinitely while litigation continues Programs included in the Trump administration s restriction would include childcare services for low-income families adult development mental healthcare and substance use disorder programs temporary housing assistance food banks cooling centers and shelters for at-risk youth and domestic violence survivors among others The proposed restriction would also include Head Start a national operation that serves more than low-income children aged to -years old across the U S The effort provides free school meals and biological screenings child care and encouragement and job assistance for parents Bonta and state leaders declared that in addition to causing irreparable harm to vulnerable families the proposed restrictions barring specific immigrants from participation would have a chilling effect on all participants of the programs regardless of immigration status The states lawsuit also commented the proposed verification requirements would cost states economies hundreds of millions of dollars With in the current era s decision vital training nutrition and robustness programs like Head Start and the families who rely on their services can breathe a sigh of relief noted Attorney General Bonta The Trump Administration continues to pull the rug out from under California families just trying to get by but we re fighting back We re grateful that a district court has put a stop to this cruel new directive while our litigation continues