Contacts:

Center for Law and Social Policy: Tom Salyers (202-906-8002), tsalyers@clasp.org

National Immigration Law Center: Hayley Burgess (202-805-0375), media@nilc.org

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump this afternoon signed a memorandum ordering federal agencies to expand attacks on immigrants and their family members, by targeting the U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who sponsor their relatives. The announcement, which directs agencies to develop policies within 90 or 180 days, will intimidate sponsors from reuniting with their family members, and will deter lawfully admitted immigrants from securing services for which they are eligible.

The order comes on the heels of a series of attacks that would put immigration status at risk if families use public programs like Medicaid or nutrition assistance. The memo released today targets the same immigrant communities but magnifies the assault by directing agencies to develop plans to sue the sponsors of immigrants who use certain public programs.

Immigrants with sponsors already face multiple barriers to receiving services. This directive undermines individual and public health by increasing these barriers and chilling access to services.

The co-chairs of the Protecting Immigrant Families Campaign reacted this afternoon by releasing the following statement by Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center, and Olivia Golden, executive director of the Center for Law and Social Policy:

“Trump will do anything to send immigrant families the message that if you’re not white and wealthy, you’re not welcome — or even safe — here. And he doesn’t care that children and entire families will be harmed in the process. This is the latest in a string of desperate, dangerous attacks on our neighbors, our friends, our classmates, our families, and the communities they call home. We’re committed to fighting these anti-family attacks on every front. We urge leaders in Congress to take a stand against this administration’s brutal, reckless, dangerous, inhumane agenda.”