Maryland joins lawsuit to stop federal restrictions on access to public benefits

BALTIMORE, Md. — Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown on Monday joined 19 other attorneys general in a lawsuit seeking to block new federal rules that restrict access to a range of health, education, and social services based on immigration status.

The lawsuit challenges a recent shift by the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, Labor, and Justice that reinterprets the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) to limit the use of federal funds for programs serving individuals who cannot verify immigration status.

“These sweeping restrictions would gut vital safety net programs and endanger the health, education, and well-being of our most vulnerable neighbors,” Attorney General Brown said in a statement.

The lawsuit claims the new interpretation, which took effect earlier this month, bypassed required federal rulemaking procedures and imposed immediate and disruptive conditions on state programs that provide services through Head Start, Title X family planning, adult education, mental health treatment, and Community Health Centers.

According to the complaint, providers are now expected to verify immigration status for clients using federal funds—requirements that many cannot meet without overhauling infrastructure. Some providers have warned they may shut down due to their inability to comply.

The coalition argues that the guidance violates the Administrative Procedure Act by circumventing the normal rulemaking process and misapplies PRWORA by applying eligibility restrictions to entire programs rather than individual benefits. The suit also asserts that the new rules violate the U.S. Constitution’s Spending Clause by changing funding terms without proper notice or consent from states.

The attorneys general are asking the court to immediately block enforcement, vacate the guidance, and restore prior policies that allowed broad access to federally funded social services regardless of immigration status.

Maryland is part of a 20-state coalition seeking a preliminary and permanent injunction against the rules. The guidance applies to both undocumented individuals and some lawful visa holders, and could impact U.S. citizens who lack formal documentation.

The lawsuit contends that the changes endanger critical services and threaten to destabilize essential public health and social systems nationwide.

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