1. United States
2. Maine
3. Letter

Tennessee is using a children's disability program as an immigration enforcement tool, and you need to stop it. Families of roughly 400 children enrolled in Children's Special Services received notices in early June 2026 warning that staying enrolled past June 30 would trigger a report to state immigration authorities. These are kids with cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, and sickle cell anemia whose families earn at or below 225% of the federal poverty level. A judge had to step in with a temporary restraining order just to pause this. The state's own interpretation of this law is legally shaky. Representative Steve Cohen has already written to Governor Lee arguing the legislation applies only to applicants 18 and older, not children. Beyond the legal question, the real-world damage is already happening. KFF survey data shows 11% of immigrant adults have stopped participating in public programs since January 2025 over fears exactly like this one. Families will pull their kids from life-sustaining care rather than risk exposure, and providers warn those disruptions can be fatal. This program has no immigrant eligibility restrictions for good reason. Sick children should not be leverage in an enforcement strategy. Push back on the state's interpretation of this law, support the legal challenge, and make clear that medical data for children with disabilities will not be handed to immigration authorities.