This week’s policy round-up tracks sweeping federal actions that threaten equity, access, and civil rights—from redefining citizenship through surveillance and ideological screening, to blocking healthcare and education for immigrant communities, and undermining public service workers.
Citizenship Crackdown: Surveillance, Suppression, and Social Control
Under a new USCIS memo, citizenship applicants must now prove civic engagement, family responsibility, and ideological alignment—including social media screenings for “anti-American” views and antisemitism. This marks a shift from the previous focus on criminal history to a broader, more subjective evaluation of character. Applicants are expected to provide documentation like tax records, child support payments, and volunteer history. The vague standards and wide discretion given to officers raise serious concerns: immigrants with fewer resources may struggle to meet these demands, and legitimate dissent could be penalized.
This weaponization of citizenship status is also reflected in proposed changes to voting access. The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is considering a major change: requiring individuals to submit documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. This proposal—driven by the America First Legal Foundation—was announced via a Federal Register notice on August 21. Requiring proof of citizenship to vote could block thousands of eligible voters and turn registration into a tool for surveillance. This is a critical opportunity to push back against voter suppression and protect access to the ballot. Submit your comment by October 20 by clicking here .
Citizenship status is also being weaponized through healthcare access. This week, the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services launched a nationwide campaign requiring states to verify that Medicaid and CHIP enrollees are U.S. citizens, nationals, or have verifiable immigration status. States will receive monthly reports flagging individuals whose status cannot be confirmed through federal databases, such as SAVE, and must follow up with documentation requests or coverage termination.
This change risks stripping healthcare from eligible individuals due to data mismatches or delays. It also discourages immigrants from seeking coverage, even when qualified, out of fear of being flagged. As more people lose access or face barriers, community clinics and nonprofits will be stretched thin, trying to support those left behind by a system that is becoming more punitive than protective.
Protecting Children, Not Punishing Them: Immigration Policies Under Scrutiny
The State Department has paused all visitor visas for Gazans, citing unverified claims of ties to Hamas, just days after far-right commentator Laura Loomer posted videos of children from Gaza arriving in the U.S. for medical treatment. This decision blocks access to life-saving care for children in a region where humanitarian conditions are dire. Over 400 attacks on healthcare facilities have rendered 26 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals non-functional. The World Health Organization estimates more than 22,500 Gazans have sustained life-changing injuries requiring long-term rehabilitation. With Gaza facing critical shortages of food, antibiotics, and pediatric trauma care, the U.S. remains one of the few places equipped to treat these children. Halting visas not only deepens the crisis—it politicizes medical aid and punishes children for surviving war.
Meanwhile, legal protections for immigrant children inside the U.S. are also being tested. In a critical legal decision, a federal judge rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to terminate the Flores Settlement Agreement—a longstanding policy that protects immigrant children in federal custody by ensuring children are housed in safe, sanitary conditions and limiting detention to 72 hours. The court found that improvements in detention conditions, cited by the government as justification for ending the agreement, actually underscore its necessity and effectiveness. The decision sends a clear message: even amid political efforts to dismantle immigrant protections, the basic rights of children must be upheld.
Census Bureau Unveils 2030 Plan and Opens Door for Public Input
The Census Bureau has released its Operational Plan for the 2030 Census, outlining its approach to planning and execution for the next decennial count. Notably, the 2030 Census will be the first to include a “Middle Eastern or North African” response option in its race and ethnicity question—an important milestone for Arab Americans who have long been excluded from the census. Accurate representation of MENA populations is essential, as census data directly informs the distribution of over $675 billion annually in federal funding for programs like Medicaid, SNAP, and public housing, and shapes political representation and local planning efforts. In tandem with this release, the Bureau is seeking public comment on its proposed 2030 Census Planning Survey, which aims to understand public attitudes and barriers to participation. Community input is critical; without it, decisions may be shaped by perspectives that exclude or misrepresent marginalized groups. NNAAC will be submitting a comment and encourages community members to share their insights to ensure the 2030 Census is safe, inclusive, and equitable. If you would like our comment to be inclusive of your perspectives, please reach out to [email protected].
Loan Forgiveness Threatened
The Trump administration is proposing to ban organizations who are deemed to have a “substantial illegal purpose” from the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Organizations serving immigrants or transgender youth, especially those offering gender-affirming care, are explicitly mentioned. The Education Secretary would have discretion to determine whether an organization is ineligible, even without a court ruling, using the “preponderance of the evidence” standard (meaning more likely than not). If an organization is banned from the program, their employees loan payments would no longer count towards forgiveness. Bans last 10 years or until a corrective action plan is approved. This proposal threatens to punish public service workers for where they work—while giving the government sweeping power to control which causes are deemed acceptable, silencing dissent, and undermining care for marginalized communities.