The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is adding 13 programs to a list of public benefits restricted to people under certain immigration statuses. Officials say this will reduce the burden on taxpayers.

Kansas advocates say recent changes to federal policy that bar many immigrants from accessing certain health services is meant to create worse living conditions for a vulnerable community with limited health care options.

They also say the updated policy is part of President Donald Trump’s wide-ranging crackdown on immigration.

Monica Bennett, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, told the Kansas News Service that immigrants are being used as scapegoats for rising government spending on health services.

“Someone for people to point to and say, ‘it’s

See Full Page