Trump Admin Reconsiders Deporting Immigrants Who Need Lifesaving Medical Care

Immigration activists and clergy members participate in a silent prayer walk in protest against the Trump administration's immigration policies outside the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services offices in New Yor... Immigration activists and clergy members participate in a silent prayer walk in protest against the Trump administration's immigration policies outside the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services offices in New York City. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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The Trump administration is slightly backing off of a new rule announced last month that would force immigrants who are in need of lifesaving medical care to return home or risk deportation, the New York Times reported.

Early last month U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services cut out one of its “deferred action” services that at least halts deportation proceedings while an undocumented immigrant or their kin receive medical care for life threatening illnesses or injuries. Those who have been avoiding deportation under the program received notice on August 7 that they had to leave the country within 33 days or they’d be deported.

The agency told the Times in a statement on Monday that it was taking a step back and would at least “complete the caseload that was pending on August 7.” It is unclear if  the program will remain cut moving forward.

“Whether a very limited version of deferred action will continue forward at U.S.C.I.S. is still under review. More information will be forthcoming,” an agency official told the Times when the newspaper asked for clarification.

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Notable Replies

  1. Trump will blame the Democrats for this mess in 5…4…3…

  2. Avatar for noonm noonm says:

    Anything less than a full and complete reversal is unacceptable. Deporting seriously sick kids is depraved.

  3. Avatar for Akimbo Akimbo says:

    I think they are going to try “no more new cases” and then try to deny to renew the old cases at a slower, less visible rate. Stephen Miller overreached but he has not given up.

  4. Testing the limits of their grotesque, insensitive cruelty.

  5. Another example of the Trump administration making snap decisions without considering the moral, ethical or political consequences of those actions. That they would even consider terminating a program that offers medical care (and life in many cases) to poor individuals, especially children, from developing countries is heartbreaking. That they are doing it in our name and on our behalf is unacceptable. This is not who I am; this is not who we are as a country.

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