A Nashville judge granted a temporary restraining order on Wednesday evening, stopping Tennessee health officials from sharing identifying information about undocumented children with critical illnesses to the state’s immigration enforcement office. The ruling comes days before a new state law was set to take effect after June 30, potentially affecting about 400 immigrant children receiving lifesaving medical care.
Chancellor Patricia Head Moskal of Davidson County Chancery Court issued the order following a lawsuit filed by the Tennessee Justice Center on behalf of three Nashville physicians. The legal action sought to block implementation of the law requiring local health departments to report individuals not lawfully present in the United States to the Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division.
Main Developments in the Court Ruling
The temporary restraining order specifically targets the Tennessee Health Department’s ability to share identifying information of undocumented children enrolled in the Children’s Special Services program. This publicly funded program serves as a payer of last resort for children with critical illnesses or disabilities who have no other healthcare options.
According to confirmed information, parents of enrolled children received letters from the Health Department this month informing them that their children’s information could be shared with immigration authorities if they remained enrolled in the program past June 30. The Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division, which would have received this information, was created last year.
Michele Johnson, Executive Director of the Tennessee Justice Center, described the judge’s order as “the miracle Brenda asked for,” referring to a Honduran mother affected by the policy. Johnson stated that the order means the “state cannot go forward with the policy” for now.
What We Know So Far
The Children’s Special Services program currently provides medical payment assistance to thousands of children across Tennessee. In 2024, the program spent $2.19 million in claims, and 4,640 children in the state received medical payment assistance that year. About 400 of these children are immigrants who could have been affected by the information-sharing requirement.
The program receives funding through a mix of state dollars and federal block grants, serving children with serious medical conditions who cannot access healthcare through other means.
Brenda, a Honduran mother who has a 12-year-old daughter with cerebral palsy and epilepsy, shared her perspective on the situation. She said, “but if we stay, they’ll come knocking on our door asking about our children as if they were criminals — we are waiting for a miracle to stop the new state law from going into effect next month.”
The Tennessee Health Department did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday regarding the court’s decision.
What Happens Next
A hearing is scheduled for July 2 at Davidson County Chancery Court. This hearing will determine the next steps in the legal proceedings and whether the temporary restraining order will be extended or modified.
It is important to note that this ruling is temporary in nature. The restraining order blocks the state from implementing the information-sharing policy while the lawsuit proceeds through the court system. No final decision has been made on whether the law can ultimately take effect.
The three Nashville physicians named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed by the Tennessee Justice Center will continue their legal challenge. Their names have not been publicly released in available court information.
Important Details About the Affected Program
Children’s Special Services operates as a safety net program for families with children who have critical medical needs and no other payment options. The program is designed specifically for children with serious illnesses and disabilities requiring ongoing medical care.
The new state law at the center of this legal battle would have required local health departments throughout Tennessee to report individuals they determine are not lawfully present in the United States to the Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division. This requirement was set to affect families enrolled in the Children’s Special Services program after the June 30 deadline.
The restraining order applies specifically to the sharing of identifying information. Families who received letters from the Health Department earlier this month now have temporary relief from the immediate threat of having their information shared with immigration enforcement authorities.
The Human Impact
The case has highlighted the difficult choices facing immigrant families with seriously ill children. Brenda’s situation represents that of many families enrolled in the program. Her 12-year-old daughter requires ongoing medical care for cerebral palsy and epilepsy, conditions that necessitate consistent access to healthcare services.
The Tennessee Justice Center’s legal intervention came in response to concerns raised by physicians and families about the potential consequences of the information-sharing requirement. The organization represents healthcare providers who treat children in the program and who raised concerns about the policy’s impact on their patients.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the temporary restraining order mean for enrolled families?
The order temporarily prevents the Tennessee Health Department from sharing identifying information of undocumented children in the Children’s Special Services program with the state’s immigration enforcement office while the lawsuit proceeds. A hearing is scheduled for July 2.
How many children could be affected by this law?
About 400 immigrant children currently receive lifesaving care through the Children’s Special Services program. In 2024, the broader program provided medical payment assistance to 4,640 children across Tennessee.
Is this a permanent block on the law?
No, this is a temporary restraining order. The court has not made a final decision on the law. A hearing on July 2 will address next steps in the legal proceedings. The temporary order only prevents the state from implementing the policy while the case moves forward.
What is the Children’s Special Services program?
Children’s Special Services is a publicly funded program described as a payer of last resort for children with critical illnesses or disabilities. It receives funding through state dollars and federal block grants, and spent $2.19 million in claims in 2024.
Who filed the lawsuit against the Health Department?
The Tennessee Justice Center filed the lawsuit on behalf of three Nashville physicians. The organization’s Executive Director is Michele Johnson, who described the court order as a temporary victory for affected families.
The situation remains fluid as the July 2 court date approaches. Families enrolled in the Children’s Special Services program and healthcare providers serving these children will be watching closely as the legal process continues in Davidson County Chancery Court.
