Phoenix sued over claims it’s keeping virus aid from some immigrants
Jul 29, 2020, 4:35 AM | Updated: 7:45 am
(Getty Images/Andrew Harnik-Pool)
(Getty Images/Andrew Harnik-Pool)
PHOENIX — The city of Phoenix is being sued over claims it is wrongly applying a federal law that disqualifies DACA recipients and immigrants with other statuses from receiving financial relief under the federal coronavirus relief bill.
On Tuesday, the William E. Morris Institute for Justice announced it had filed a lawsuit against the city on behalf of Poder in Action, the Arizona Dream Act Coalition and an individual plaintiff, according to a press release.
“In establishing this emergency housing program, the city decided to restrict immigrant eligibility based on whether the immigrant was a ‘qualified’ immigrant as defined in the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (“PRWORA”),” the William E. Morris Institute for Justice stated in the release.
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“This definition of “qualified” immigrant under PRWORA is restrictive and leaves out many groups of immigrants, including DACA recipients, persons with 2 Temporary Protected Status, asylum applicants, U-Visa holders who are victims of serious crimes and others.”
Phoenix has received $293 million from the relief bill and designated $25 million for housing assistance.
Ellen Katz — a plaintiff for Poder in Action and director of the William E. Morris Institute for Justice — told KTAR News 92.3 FM that the funds are designed to only help those in need manage their bills.
“This is short-term money. It’s not cash,” she said.
“It’s not going to the applicants. It’s in-kind payments going to pay their rents, their mortgage companies and their utilities.”
Katz said she doesn’t know how exactly many immigrants Phoenix may have turned away.
“People are told unless you’re a certain type of immigrant that you are not eligible for these funds,” she said.
The city of Phoenix does not comment on pending litigation.
