Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia have sued the U.S. Departments of Justice (DOJ), Health and Human Services (HHS), Education (ED), and Labor (DOL), challenging recent changes to the interpretation and implementation of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) that require verification of individuals' lawful status before accessing certain services and programs. Plaintiffs contend that the changes improperly expand PRWORA’s reach to dozens of programs that have historically not required verification. Plaintiffs argue that the defendants' actions violate the Administrative Procedure Act, the PRWORA, and the Spending Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Plaintiffs seek a declaration that the actions are unlawful, vacatur of the challenged interpretations, and preliminary and permanent injunctions prohibiting enforcement.
