The Division of Well being and Human Providers (HHS) introduced Thursday it was rescinding a virtually 30-year interpretation of laws that allowed undocumented immigrants to entry sure federal public advantages.
HHS stated it was formally rescinding a 1998 interpretation of the Private Duty and Work Alternative Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) that allowed undocumented immigrants to entry providers like group well being facilities and Head Begin, the federal program that gives schooling, well being and vitamin providers to low revenue households.
In fiscal yr 2022, Head Begin supplied providers to 833,000 kids and pregnant girls.
The PRWORA, handed in 1996, restricted eligibility of advantages for undocumented immigrants and plenty of authorized immigrants throughout their first few years within the U.S. However exemptions allowed for states to increase advantages to undocumented immigrants, together with packages for public well being and emergency providers.
“For too lengthy, the federal government has diverted hardworking Individuals’ tax {dollars} to incentivize unlawful immigration,” Kennedy stated in an announcement. “In the present day’s motion adjustments that—it restores integrity to federal social packages, enforces the rule of regulation, and protects important sources for the American individuals.”
HHS stated in its announcement that the brand new interpretation “reverses outdated exclusions” from the invoice’s language.
The packages now not exempted from the PRWORA’s restrictions embrace Head Begin, well being heart packages, well being workforce packages and substance use packages, amongst others. The brand new interpretation goes into impact instantly upon being revealed within the Federal Register, although there can be a 30-day remark interval.