Newswise — The American Public Health Association, the National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership, and the Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health at the George Washington University—joined by more than 60 public health deans, chairs, and scholars are sounding the alarm on a major Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) policy shift that strips immigrant families of access to essential health and early education services.

In a formal comment to HHS, experts argue the agency’s July 2025 reinterpretation of “federal public benefit” under the 1996 welfare law:

  • Reverses 27 years of policy and contradicts clear Congressional intent.

  • Blocks access to Health Centers, Head Start, and HHS-funded behavioral health programs for immigrants—programs proven to improve health outcomes for children, adults, and pregnant women.

  • Will worsen public health by increasing preventable disease, maternal and infant mortality, and untreated mental health conditions.

The potential impact is staggering:

  • The new policy will disrupt low-income children’s access to health screenings, nutrition support, and early intervention provided by Head Start —especially for immigrant children who lose eligibility and U.S. citizen children in mixed-status families who may forgo enrollment due to the policy’s chilling effect.

  • Utilization of primary and preventive care provided by community health centers is expected to decline among low-income immigrant adults and children, including those who remain eligible but avoid seeking needed healthcare due to fear or confusion. 

  • Behavioral health programs serving children and adults with serious mental illness or substance use disorders will be harder to access, leaving emergency rooms and law enforcement as the only response available for mental health crises.

Experts warn this change will ripple through entire communities, harming public health far beyond immigrant populations.

If you would like to speak to an expert to discuss this further, please contact the GW Media Relations team, [email protected]. 

-GW-