November 13, 2019
Carson City, NV- Today, Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general and New York City in support of Doe, et al. v. Trump, et al. The lawsuit challenges the Trump Administration's Health Insurance Proclamation to bar entry for immigrants who do not possess certain health coverage or the ability to pay for medical care. In an amicus brief, the coalition asserts the Proclamation is an unlawful attempt to impose immigration restrictions that contradict laws passed by Congress, including the Affordable Care Act. Under this new requirement, a significant number of applicants who would normally qualify for immigration status would no longer be eligible. The coalition also argues that adding this requirement would result in the separation of immigrant families.
"As the Trump Administration continues to find new ways to harm immigrant communities, my office continues to fight back," said AG Ford. "Immigrants fill a substantial amount of jobs in agriculture, manufacturing and the sciences that are essential to Nevada's economy. My office will not tolerate this attempt to use health care to ban immigrants from our community."
In the brief, the coalition argues that the proclamation violates Congress' public charge statutes by adding an entry condition that Congress did not choose to include. The coalition also argues that this condition would conflict with Congress' visa statutes dedicated to family reunification and workforce development. Additionally, it would conflict with the Diversity Visa laws established by Congress for immigrants from countries with low numbers of immigrants to the U.S. The proclamation would affect immigration applications for immigrants who are typically eligible for visas.
The Proclamation would particularly harm Nevada's economy and health care markets, as it encourages shorter, term-limited coverage. Health care coverage enables the workforce and helps the economy.
AG Ford is joined by the following states in this amicus brief: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont and the District of Columbia. New York City also joined the amicus brief.
To view the filed brief, click here.
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