Federal Judge Orders DHS to Restore Citizenship Data Access for Four States

A federal judge issued a ruling directing the Department of Health and Human Services to resume data sharing. The order restores access to citizenship information for four states. The decision relies on an agreement the Trump administration signed with Florida last year. That agreement forms the legal basis for the restored access. The ruling directly contradicts an earlier injunction issued by a Washington judge. The Washington order had required the suspension of the data sharing. Restoring access may affect how the states verify immigration status for state programs. The Department must comply while any further appeals are considered.