Judge blocks Tennessee from reporting sick children to immigration
authorities, for now
[June 26, 2026]
By KRISTIN M. HALL
Nashville, Tennessee (AP) — A judge temporarily ordered the Tennessee
Department of Health not to give immigration authorities information
about roughly 400 seriously sick and disabled immigrant children who are
enrolled in a healthcare assistance program.
The restraining order was issued Wednesday at the request of three
Nashville doctors who treat some of those children and who sued after
state officials sent letters to providers and immigrant families saying
a new law required them to share identifying information for those on
the program after the end of June.
The law was part of a group of bills that Tennessee Republicans
introduced this year to support President Donald Trump’s immigration
crackdown.
A spokesperson for the state attorney general's office said Thursday
that it had no comment on the lawsuit and the complaint was under
review. State officials have not replied to the complaint in court
documents.
“This is an impossible choice for mothers, and it risks the lives and
the dignity of these children,” said Michele Johnson, executive director
of the Tennessee Justice Center, which filed the lawsuit on the doctors'
behalf.
Johnson also said the center has been advising families that they should
stay on the program while the issue is before the court. A hearing is
set for July 2 in Nashville.
The Children's Special Services program, which is partially funded by
federal funds and has been around for decades, covers medical costs for
children in need who have serious medical conditions such as cancer,
cerebral palsy, seizure diseases and diabetes.
The letters sent by the state told families that, based on their
immigration status, they would be reported to the immigration division
of the Tennessee Department of Safety if they continued to stay on the
program.
[to top of second column]
|
State House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, center, speaks
about the Republican party's legislative package of bills on
immigration during a news conference on Jan. 15, 2026, in Nashville,
Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)
 The new law required government
agencies to check the legal status of all residents before they can
obtain public benefits and was among a slate of bills in recent
years targeting immigrants' ability to work, get licenses and access
free public education and other services.
“We’re going to do what we can to make sure that if you’re here
illegally, we will have the data, we’ll have the transparency, and
we’re not spending taxpayer dollars on you unless you’re in jail,”
House Speaker Cameron Sexton said in January.
The doctors behind the lawsuit, all of whom work for Siloam Health
clinics that serve uninsured and underserved patients, said in
affidavits that some of their patients were afraid they be unable to
get important medical care for their children.
One said some patients who received a letter are not in the country
illegally but merely lived with families with “mixed status,” and
they left the program or planned to to because of the threat to
inform immigration officials.
The lawsuit argues that implementing the rule would prevent the
doctors from caring for their patients.
“The harm will be irreparable if the court didn’t intervene,”
Johnson said.
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved |
