New York, NY—Yesterday, the Trump administration announced plans to restrict undocumented immigrants from enrolling in Head Start, the federally funded preschool program, as well as more than a dozen other programs. Other impacted programs include those focused on substance abuse, mental health, drug-treatment programs, and behavioral health programs
The Trump administration issued a new interpretation of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA). Under the interpretation—which differs from interpretations when the law was passed— programs intended for the good of the community are no longer exempted from rules that limit benefits eligibility to citizens and legal residents. Instead, eligibility will be determined based on immigration status—threatening access to Head Start for around 50,000 immigrant families nationally. Thousands of immigrant New Yorkers will be harmed by the cuts.
Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition:
“The Trump administration is choosing to strip vulnerable children of the tools they need to succeed. For decades, programs like Head Start have improved the well-being of low-income families by preparing children for school by addressing their cognitive, social-emotional, and physical development. Now, the Trump administration is cruelly targeting undocumented children by barring them from this critical lifeline–an escalation of its anti-immigrant agenda. All children, regardless of immigration status, deserve our care–because they are children. When the government denies access to education, safety, and care to the next generation, it doesn’t just harm those children; it harms the health of our communities. We demand that the Trump Administration immediately reverse this inhumane policy and protect every child’s right to learn, grow, and build a better future for themselves.”