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Tennessee Conservative News [By Paula Gomes] –
A law passed this year that requires more citizenship checks for those applying for state benefits has been blocked by a judge in Davidson County.
Earlier this month, the Tennessee Department of Health sent letters to families enrolled in the Children’s Special Services (CSS) program telling them that their children’s immigration status could be reported to the state’s Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division beginning July 1st when the new law was set to take effect.
The Tennessee Justice Center filed a lawsuit on behalf of three doctors in Nashville, arguing that it could force medically fragile children from receiving needed care but the law, as written, applies only to those over the age of 18.
The law, signed by Governor Bill Lee in May, requires that all state and local governments, including county health departments, verify the citizenship or legal residency in the United States of anyone who is 18 or older who is applying for taxpayer-funded public benefits, unless prohibited by federal law.
CSS is not one of the public benefit programs that is subject to the Trump administration’s 2025 requirements for verification of immigration status. The program is funded in part through the Maternal and Child Health Services block grant and serves low-income children who are either uninsured or underinsured whose disabilities require ongoing medical interventions.
Of the more than 4,600 children in Tennessee, from birth to 17-years-old, enrolled in the program, 400 are children of immigrants with serious physical disabilities and chronic conditions, including cerebral palsy, congenital heart defects, cystic fibrosis, and seizure disorders.
The lawsuit argues that the health department has misinterpreted the new law in targeting these children.
Bill sponsor Dennis Powers (R-Jacksboro-District 36) has stated that the law does not prevent such children from receiving the lifesaving care that they need. As CSS receives federal funding, it is subject to federal law that does not require that patients have legal status in the United States before receiving care.
In a statement to News 2, Powers said, “No child receiving lifesaving medical treatment is denied care because of this new law. Federal protections for emergency and lifesaving medical services remain fully in place regardless of immigration status, criminal status, or insurance.”
The lawsuit also points to a failure on the part of Tennessee’s health department to follow a rule-making process mandated by the state before writing to families.
The ruling issued by Chancellor Patricia Head Moskal will prevent families enrolled in the medical assistance program from being reported to immigration authorities while the lawsuit moves forward.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
Chancellor Patricia Head Moskal needs to be removed. ALL conservatives who are tired of this nonsense with judges like this broad legislating from the bench to the detriment of the state and the country. We are done and these installed idiots who hate our country must be removed from seats of power. It is time to stand.
Call her office: 615-880-2597 (I did); write her at Metropolitan Historic Courthouse, 1 Public Square, Suite 402, Nashville, TN 37201.
There is a hearing 7/2/26 since the clerks says this is temporary BUT this should not have happened at all. This public servant is violating the will of the people for her own political ideologies and favor of illegals over the taxpaying citizen.