White House Urges Republican States to Report Undocumented Immigrants in Schools, Hospitals

The White House on April 11, 2026 urged Republican-led state governments to dramatically increase their immigration enforcement footprint by encouraging state employees to report undocumented immigrants encountered in schools, hospitals, and benefits programs — and to limit services to those who cannot demonstrate legal immigration status. Tennessee was cited as a model state for implementing this approach. The guidance represented an expansion of the administration's enforcement network beyond federal agencies and local police to include state social service and education workers as de facto immigration informants. Advocates warned the policy would deter vulnerable populations — including children and pregnant women — from seeking medical care or educational services, creating public health risks and humanitarian concerns.