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The administration of US President Donald Trump sued by a group of seven children after it denied their migrant parents access to crucial relief funds during the coronavirus epidemic because they were living in the United States without documentation. The kids were all US citizens and they were asking in the complaint to represent millions of other children living in the country with undocumented parents. It is noteworthy that the US Congress passed the sweeping $2 trillion CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act in March. It included $1,200 payments for taxpayers earning up to $75,000 and $500 for every child. Moreover, taxpayers must have Social Security numbers in order to qualify for the relief. Despite the fact, it indicates there are many undocumented immigrants work and pay taxes annually. But, they would not be able to receive any of the crucial funds.

Point to be noted that taxpayers who are married to undocumented immigrants are also unable to receive the payments. The lawsuit says families with children who are US citizens should be entitled to the $500 payments, regardless of whether one or both of the parents lack papers to be living in the country legally. The complaint added, “The refusal to distribute this benefit to US citizen children undermines the Cares Act’s goal of providing assistance to Americans in need”. It went on to say the barring of undocumented immigrants with American children frustrates the act’s efforts to jumpstart the economy and punishes citizen children for their parents’ status.

The lawsuit also added that such a punishment was nonsensical due to the fact that undocumented immigrants, collectively, pay billions of dollars each year in taxes. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Maryland, earlier this week. It nominated the US government and US Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin as defendants. Studies have shown immigrant populations including black and brown communities in the US stand to face the most severe impacts of the epidemic. There are more workers from each group on the front lines and considered essential than other demographics. The federal government has rejected to provide relief to undocumented immigrants.