Dear John,

Now more than ever, PIF stands ready with you to defend the dignity and rights of immigrant families against President Trump’s racist agenda. During the first week of the new administration, Trump issued executive orders that direct federal agencies to take steps that would threaten the health and well-being of millions in immigrant families. If implemented, these policies will exacerbate social problems ranging from unmet health care to poverty, hunger, and homelessness. The president’s vision puts the country at risk by perpetuating systemic inequalities that widen the gap to essential resources that all families, regardless of immigration status, need to thrive.

In his Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions, President Trump rescinded a number of Biden-era executive orders, including E.O. 14012, “Restoring Faith in Our Legal Systems and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for New Americans.” The Biden executive order directed the federal government to “develop welcoming strategies that promote integration, inclusion, and citizenship,” including reviewing agency actions related to implementation of public charge and considering the effects of these policies. Trump’s order did not withdraw any Biden public charge regulations or guidance or otherwise change public charge policy. The Biden public charge regulation and guidance are still in effect.
The Protecting the American People from Invasion executive order includes many threatening-sounding provisions, but cannot change important federal statutory protections. It requires:
- The Office of Management and Budget to ensure that all agencies identify and stop providing public benefits to people who are undocumented and are not authorized to receive them under federal law. However, a framework of federal law already clarifies eligibility for public benefits.
- An audit of federal contracts, grants and agreements that provide funding to NGOs servicing people who are undocumented. The review is to ensure that the agreements are legal and do not promote violations of our immigration laws. And federal agencies may potentially stop funding or attempt to clawback this funding.
- The DHS Secretary to issue guidance to ensure state compliance with federal data sharing laws. However, federal law already prohibits states from restricting communication with federal immigration officials about an individual’s citizenship or immigration status. Under other protective federal laws, state agencies may not disclose information about public benefits recipients, such as the fact that the individual is receiving a public benefit, or the individual’s address, if the purpose of the request is unrelated to administering public benefit programs.
The Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Benjamine Huffman, issued Directives Expanding Law Enforcement and Ending the Abuse of Humanitarian Parole, rescinding the “protected areas” guidance that protected immigrants and their families from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) enforcement actions near or in areas such as hospitals, schools, places of worship and other sites. If immigration enforcement efforts occur in these locations, it will have extensive and devastating impacts on immigrant families, deterring them from seeking critical services and compromising their physical and mental well-being. For additional information and resources, see the National Immigration Law Center’s (NILC) explainer on the policy rescission and the Center on Law and Social Policy’s (CLASP) resources for providers and messaging guide.
In Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship, Trump reinterprets the 14th amendment to state that U.S. citizenship does not automatically extend to individuals if the mother was “unlawfully present” or had lawful temporary status and the father was not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident at the time of the birth. If implemented, this unconstitutional order would create an underclass of people who would be denied full rights. On January 23rd, just three days after the order was issued, the US District Court for the Western District of Washington at Seattle temporarily blocked Trump’s order curtailing birthright citizenship and called Trump’s order “blatantly unconstitutional.” A number of other legal challenges have been filed. For more information and to take action, see the American Civil Liberties Union’s (ACLU) Explainer and sign-on letter for individuals.

The 119th Congress began its legislative work focusing on a range of anti-immigrant bills to expand federal and state powers to detain and deport people meant to instill greater fear in immigrants and deter them from seeking safety and accessing critical benefits:

The Laken Riley Act (HR 7511) was passed by the House and the Senate and will be signed into law by President Trump. This bill requires the mandatory immigration arrest and detention – without access to bail – of any undocumented person convicted of or merely arrested for theft and other offenses.
The No Bailouts for Sanctuary Cities (HR 32) bill is expected to move soon. The bill gives the federal government sweeping power to penalize states and localities who do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement and otherwise create a welcoming environment for immigrants. Forcing states and localities to take up a misguided and racist immigration agenda will have dire consequences for access to services for millions in immigrant families.
The Violence Against Women by “Illegal Aliens” Act (HR 35), though framed as protection for women, uses the threat of immigration enforcement to deter victims of domestic violence from leaving abusive situations and makes some victims vulnerable to deportation.

Congress will also attempt to restrict immigrants’ access to benefits through the budget reconciliation process, which is likely to begin in early February. Potential threats include:

Immigrant eligibility restrictions on entitlement programs (e.g., Medicaid, SNAP, SSI) by changing eligibility rules, requiring citizenship documentation, or narrowing the definition of who is “lawfully present.”
Immigrant eligibility restrictions or deep funding cuts in immigrant-serving health and discretionary programs, such as TANF, health centers, WIC programs, school lunch programs, and housing programs.
Changes to the Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA), such as legislating the Trump public charge policy.
Restrictions to tax policies, like the Child Tax Credit, that would prevent immigrants (or families with immigrants in them) from receiving tax benefits.

We remain committed to our collective fight for justice and are grateful for your invaluable partnership. As things change, you can count on us to keep you updated and informed.

Sincerely,

The PIF Team