Judge Blocks HHS Head Start Immigration Checks In Washington; Multi-State Legal Fight Escalates

A federal judge in Washington issued a preliminary injunction blocking an HHS directive that would have required Head Start programs to verify families’ immigration status. Advocates say the ruling protects access for roughly 15,000 children in the state and prevents programs from acting as de facto immigration screeners while litigation proceeds. The case aligns with broader, multi-state lawsuits challenging the directive’s legality and potential chilling effects on vulnerable families.