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Steve Cohen has formally requested that Tennessee Governor Bill Lee reverse a recent directive requiring the Tennessee Department of Health to report immigrant parents and their children enrolled in the Children’s Special Services (CSS) Program to U.S. Immigration and Customs authorities after June 30. Cohen’s letter, sent yesterday, urges the state not to proceed with the reporting measure, citing concerns for the privacy and well-being of families who rely on the health program for essential care.
Cohen is seeking to protect immigrant families accessing state health resources, arguing that reporting them to federal authorities could deter vulnerable communities from seeking needed medical assistance. The CSS Program provides specialized health services to children with special needs, and changes to its data reporting process prompt significant debate around public health policy and immigration in the U.S.
Cohen has previously raised concerns about threats to access and privacy in health and social policy. He recently noted renewed debate over contraception policy in the U.S., marking 61 years since Griswold v. Connecticut. Earlier, he also highlighted the opening of the South City Early Education Center as part of a community redevelopment effort.