Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., bashed the Trump administration Tuesday after barring illegal immigrants from remaining in the U.S. while they or their relatives receive life-saving medical treatments or endure other hardships.
Omar tweeted:
"This administration just okayed deporting children with cancer. There's no length Trump isn't willing to go to target, dehumanize, and impoverish black and brown people."
Omar's tweet included a news report saying that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services told families of the policy change in letters earlier this month. It took effect Aug. 7.
The Associated Press reported that the letters were sent to families in Massachusetts, California, North Carolina, and other states.
It affects all pending requests, including from those seeking a renewal of the two-year authorization and those applying for the first time, according to the AP.
The only exception is for military members and their families.
The special status is similar to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program created in 2012 by President Barack Obama to shield illegals from deportation who were brought to the country as children.
The agency estimated that it receives about 1,000 deferred action requests every year that are not related to the armed forces or DACA. Most cite medical or financial hardships, the officials told AP.
However, illegals can now seek such deportation deferrals from Immigration Customs and Enforcement, agency officials said.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.