Judge Orders Temporary Halt on Sharing Immigrant Children’s Data in Tennessee
A significant legal development in Nashville, Tennessee, has led to the state health department being temporarily restrained from providing immigration authorities with the details of approximately 400 immigrant children with severe health conditions. This decision came from a judge in response to a lawsuit initiated by three local doctors concerned about the welfare of these children.
The legal action occurred after Tennessee officials informed healthcare providers and immigrant families that a newly enacted law required them to disclose the identities of children enrolled in a healthcare assistance program post-June. This law is part of a broader legislative initiative by Tennessee Republicans to align with former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
Currently, the Tennessee attorney general’s office has yet to publicly comment on the lawsuit, although they have acknowledged that the complaint is under review. State officials have not submitted any formal responses in court thus far.
Michele Johnson, the executive director of the Tennessee Justice Center, which represents the doctors, emphasized, “This is an impossible choice for mothers, and it risks the lives and the dignity of these children.” Johnson advises families to remain in the program while awaiting further court decisions, with a hearing scheduled for July 2 in Nashville.
The healthcare assistance program in question, known as the Children’s Special Services program, has been operational for decades, partially funded by federal resources. It assists children with critical medical needs, including conditions like cancer, cerebral palsy, and diabetes.
State-issued letters warned families that their immigration status could lead to reports being sent to the Tennessee Department of Safety’s immigration division if they continued to participate in the program. This requirement stems from a new state law mandating that government agencies verify the legal residency of individuals prior to granting public benefits. This law is part of a series of recent legislative measures aimed at restricting immigrants’ access to work, licenses, education, and other public services.
House Speaker Cameron Sexton previously remarked that the goal is to ensure that taxpayer funds are not allocated to individuals illegally residing in the state, except under specific circumstances like incarceration.
The doctors involved in the lawsuit, affiliated with Siloam Health clinics which serve uninsured and underserved populations, have expressed in affidavits that some patients fear losing essential medical care for their children. They noted that some families receiving the state’s letters were not residing illegally but had members with mixed immigration status, leading them to withdraw from the program.
The lawsuit underscores the potential setbacks in medical care provision if the rule is enforced, with Johnson warning of “irreparable harm” without court intervention.
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