FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 12, 2025
Contact: Robin J. Bozek, Executive Director
Michigan Head Start Association
robin@michheadstart.org
Federal Courts Temporarily Block Immigration Status Rule for Head Start Families
East Lansing, MI — In a major development for Head Start programs, two federal courts have issued Temporary Restraining Orders (TROs) halting the administration’s recent attempt to require Head Start programs to verify the immigration status of enrolled children and families.
These rulings come in response to two separate legal challenges:
- One case, led by Attorneys General from 21 states and the District of Columbia, granted relief to programs within those jurisdictions.
- The second case, brought forward by four state Head Start associations and two parent groups, extended protection to all Head Start programs nationwide.
“We are encouraged by these decisions as the Head Start community is well aware of the harm this policy could cause to children and families,” said Robin Bozek, Executive Director of the Michigan Head Start Association. “Head Start has never required proof of immigration status, and we believe strongly that it should remain that way.”
The Michigan Head Start Association joins the National Head Start Association (NHSA) in opposing this rule and urges all programs to maintain current eligibility and enrollment practices. Programs should not make any changes to policies or procedures until further guidance is provided by the courts and the administration.
While these TROs are temporary and not final rulings, they represent a critical pause in a policy that threatens to undermine access to early childhood education for vulnerable families. Head Start is a proven investment in the future — our leaders should be expanding access, not restricting it.
The Michigan Head Start Association has submitted formal opposition to the administration and continues to monitor legal developments closely.