States sue White House over citizenship requirements for low-income federal assistance

Source: Courthouse News Service

July 21, 2025


(CN) — New York Attorney General Letitia James is leading a coalition of 20 states and the District of Columbia in suing the Trump administration over new requirements that, she claims, could gut a variety of programs for low-income families.

In their lawsuit, filed Monday in Rhode Island federal court, the states claim that an executive order from President Donald Trump unlawfully strips immigrants — and potentially many United States citizens — of access to federal services like Head Start, public health programs and food banks. Trump signed the scrutinized order on February 19. Titled “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders,” the order redefines many federal programs as restricted “federal public benefits,” now subject to immigration verification.

“Chaos has predictably followed,” the states claim in their 50-page complaint. “Almost overnight, states and their subgrantees faced the threat of enforcement if they could not dramatically restructure crucial components of their social safety nets to comply with defendants’ new dictates.”

Not only could the policies cut immigrants without legal status off of the programs, the states warn, but they could also affect student visa holders, temporary workers, exchange visitors and other people with legal status. The coalition claims that they may even affect United States citizens, as many lack the government-issued identification required to comply with Trump’s order.

Read more: https://www.courthousenews.com/states-sue-white-house-over-citizenship-requirements-for-low-income-federal-assistance/