Immediately enacted rule by Trump prohibits undocumented immigrants from participating in Head Start child care programs
In a dramatic shift, the Trump administration has announced that undocumented immigrant children will no longer be eligible to enroll in the federally funded Head Start program. This policy change, effective from mid-2025, reverses a 1998 interpretation of federal law that had allowed undocumented immigrants to access certain programs like Head Start.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., made this announcement as part of a broader effort to restrict undocumented immigrants' access to multiple federally funded social programs. The administration claims this move is aimed at "restoring integrity" to social programs and protecting resources for American citizens, alleging that previous policies incentivized illegal immigration.
Over its 60-year history, Head Start did not require proof of immigration status for enrollment, allowing many undocumented children to participate. However, under the new policy, children must now provide proof of legal status to be eligible for the program, which provides child care, nutrition, and health assistance to low-income infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
The National Head Start Association has strongly criticized the change, warning it will create fear and confusion among families and undermine decades of evidence proving the program's importance to children's development and educational success. Ed Condon, executive director of the Region 9 Head Start Assn., stated that most of the children served by Head Start are citizens.
The policy change could affect some of the most vulnerable young children in the nation. Lower-income families often rely on multiple services, including Head Start, and the policy change could deter parents without legal status from enrolling their citizen children. The policy change is estimated to save $374 million annually, but will cost $21 million in time spent on documenting and reviewing eligibility, as well as transition costs for the program.
California Head Start programs are particularly affected by this policy change, with over 80,000 low-income families potentially losing access to child care. The policy change has shaken the Head Start industry, which has already been facing challenges this year, including a series of layoffs, cuts, and threats to terminate the program entirely.
In response to the policy change, a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's attacks on Head Start was filed in April. If the policy change takes effect, the plaintiffs plan to amend their complaint. The memo regarding the Head Start policy change did not specify whether immigration status checks would be conducted for the parents or the child.
The policy change will bar undocumented immigrants from accessing a suite of federally funded public programs, including health clinics, family planning, and the low-income energy assistance program. Ted Lempert, president of Children Now, stated that education in the U.S. guarantees every kid an education, regardless of status.
The federal policy change will be published in the Federal Registry, starting a 30-day public comment period. It remains to be seen whether the policy change will apply to all Head Start centers, including those run by school districts.
- The Trump administration's policy change, set to take effect in mid-2025, bars undocumented immigrant children from enrolling in the federally funded Head Start program.
- This policy reverses a 1998 interpretation of federal law that had allowed undocumented immigrants to access certain programs like Head Start.
- Under the new policy, children must provide proof of legal status to be eligible for Head Start, which offers child care, nutrition, and health assistance to low-income families.
- California Head Start programs, serving over 80,000 low-income families, are particularly affected by this policy change.
- The policy change is part of a broader effort by the Department of Health and Human Services to restrict undocumented immigrants' access to multiple federally funded social programs.
- The National Head Start Association has criticized the change, warning it will create fear and confusion among families and undermine decades of evidence supporting the program's importance.
- Education in the U.S., according to Ted Lempert, president of Children Now, guarantees every kid an education, regardless of status.
- The policy change will also bar undocumented immigrants from accessing a suite of federally funded public programs, including health clinics, family planning, and the low-income energy assistance program.
