Washington, D.C., September 12, 2025—This week, rulings on two different court challenges ensured that immigrant families will continue to have access to Head Start and other important programs. Earlier this year, several federal agencies issued notices that would reinterpret the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) to restrict eligibility for some federal programs to “qualified immigrants,” in some cases expanding the list of what are considered “federal public benefits.” Last month, CLASP submitted comments in opposition to this harmful new interpretation.  At the same time, several court cases challenged the legality of these actions.  

The first case, filed by attorneys general in 20 states and Washington, D.C., challenged the federal government’s reinterpretation of PRWORA and resulted in a preliminary injunction blocking the implementation of the reinterpretation in those states and D.C. This challenge was across three government agencies: the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, and the Department of Labor. In states not covered by the lawsuit, any changes to program eligibility and an implementation timeline are still contingent on additional guidance. 

The second case, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, challenged this interpretation, specifically as it relates to Head Start. Yesterday, a federal judge granted a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking the directive to exclude immigrant children in Head Start nationwide.  

“These court rulings are important victories for immigrant families and our country. Unfortunately, so much damage has already been done because these directives have instilled fear, along with the fact that other actions of this administration—including unprecedented immigration enforcement measures—have caused significant harm,” said Wendy Chun-Hoon, CLASP’s president and executive director. “We believe that every family should have access to the programs and services they need to thrive, and we will keep fighting until that happens.”  

Administration officials have already taken steps to challenge these rulings, as their goal is to reduce access to and ultimately dismantle these important programs. The well-being of our next generation depends on protecting these programs and the children and families they have served for decades.