Tennessee Restricts Lifesaving Aid for Undocumented Children, Forcing Families to Choose Care or Immigration Reporting
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jun 22
Tennessee Restricts Lifesaving Aid for Undocumented Children, Forcing Families to Choose Care or Immigration Reporting
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jun 22
Summary
Tennessee families with critically ill or severely disabled undocumented children have been told they must leave a state medical program or risk having their child reported to immigration authorities.
The move applies a law designed to cut undocumented immigrants off public benefits to children who rely on state-funded medication and treatment for lifesaving care.
Notices to families turn the policy into an immediate choice between continuing treatment and exposing a child to immigration enforcement.
The restriction widens the impact of Tennessee’s immigration crackdown from benefit eligibility into medical care for some of the state’s sickest children.