Three Nashville physicians sued Tennessee on Wednesday to stop a July 1 policy that would require some immigrant children in the Children's Special Services program to be reported to immigration authorities.
About 400 children statewide receive care through CSS, a federally funded program for severe disabilities and serious medical conditions when families have no other access to treatment.
The lawsuit says the reporting requirement violates state and federal law and asks Davidson County Chancery Court to temporarily bar health officials from sharing children's information while the case proceeds.
Doctors said patients depend on the program for life-threatening conditions including congenital heart disease, leukemia and severe seizure disorders; one family said it was told to disenroll by June 30 or risk being reported.
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Tennessee’s 2026 Immigration Reporting Law Threatens Care for 400 Critically Ill Children: Legal Battle and Human Impact
Overview
As of June 24, 2026, Tennessee's new law faces an immediate legal challenge after the Tennessee Justice Center filed a lawsuit on behalf of three Nashville physicians. The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order to block the law, aiming to protect vulnerable children who depend on the Children's Special Services (CSS) program. These children face the imminent threat of losing critical care, and doctors warn that even brief interruptions in treatment could be harmful or deadly. The legal action highlights urgent concerns about the law's impact on medically fragile children and the need to ensure their continued access to life-saving care.