Attorney General Keith Ellison announced Wednesday that he’s joined another legal effort against the Trump administration over its Health Insurance Proclamation, which prevents illegal immigrants “who financially burden the United States healthcare system” from entering the country.
President Donald Trump issued the proclamation on October 4 and said uninsured immigrants strain federal and state government budgets “through their reliance on publicly funded programs, which ultimately are financed by taxpayers.”
“While our healthcare system grapples with the challenges caused by uncompensated care, the United States Government is making the problem worse by admitting thousands of aliens who have not demonstrated any ability to pay for their healthcare costs,” the proclamation states. “The United States has a long history of welcoming immigrants who come lawfully in search of brighter futures. We must continue that tradition while also addressing the challenges facing our healthcare system, including protecting both it and the American taxpayer from the burdens of uncompensated care. Continuing to allow entry into the United States of certain immigrants who lack health insurance or the demonstrated ability to pay for their healthcare would be detrimental to these interests.”
The Latino Network filed a lawsuit on October 30 against the administration’s “health care ban for immigrants.”
“At Latino Network we know that when families are united, they have better support to thrive, accomplish their dreams, and ultimately contribute to American society,” Carmen Rubio, executive director of Latino Network, said in a press release. “The Trump administration has shattered dream after dream that our community has held for the betterment of our lives, and the lives of our loved ones. This health care ban is one more cruel attack that will further separate families and paralyze progress in our community.”
Attorney General Ellison joined 20 states, the District of Columbia, and the City of New York in filing an amicus brief in support of the lawsuit. The brief argues that the proclamation will cause “significant harm” and asks that it not go into effect.
“Many immigrants will not be able to satisfy the requirements of the proclamation and will not be allowed to enter the country. Yet, immigrants are vital to the economic, civic, and social fabric of our states and city,” the brief states, saying the proclamation “unlawfully bars hundreds of thousands of prospective immigrants if they cannot ensure that they will have health insurance even before they arrive.”
“Moreover, the Proclamation will result in the separation of families, as individuals will not be able to obtain visas and join awaiting family members in our country,” it continues. “Reuniting families is more than just a humanitarian imperative; Congress intended for our immigration laws to facilitate family reunification, which has broad social benefits for our neighborhoods, communities, and societies.”
As The Minnesota Sun previously reported, Attorney General Ellison has already joined at least nine different legal challenges against the Trump administration.
“Once again, the Trump Administration is attempting to violate the law to pursue their anti-immigrant political agenda,” Ellison said in a Wednesday press release. “My office and other states have already held the Administration accountable in court for violating legal standards for immigrant children in detention, attempting to bar legal immigrants from accessing public services that they’re legally entitled to, and attempting to impose a radical new deportation program that would nearly eliminate people’s due-process rights and result in legal immigrants and U.S. citizens being deported. I’m not going to stand by and let them use healthcare to harm thousands of Minnesota families.”
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of Battleground State News, The Ohio Star, and The Minnesota Sun. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].”
