Attorney General Bonta Blocks Trump Administration's Cruel Effort to Restrict Access to Public Benefit Programs
OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today, alongside a multistate coalition, secured a final court order blocking the Trump Administration’s cruel restrictions on access to public benefit programs based on immigration status. At-risk programs included Head Start, childcare services for low-income families, adult education, mental health and substance use disorder programs, and shelters for underserved youth and domestic violence survivors. In today’s summary judgment order, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island found that the restrictions on public benefit programs violated the Administrative Procedure Act and enjoined various federal agencies from implementing these restrictions.
“With today’s decision, families across California can breathe a little easier,” said Attorney General Bonta. “The Trump Administration’s heartless anti-immigration campaign has created real fear and confusion among immigrant families and families nationwide. These families would only be worse off if its cruel restrictions on programs like Head Start went into effe...