After public outcry, Trump administration says it is reconsidering deporting seriously ill immigrants

Ken Cuccinelli.
(Image credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Following outrage from the public and doctors, the Trump administration on Monday said it is rethinking its decision to deport immigrants who are dealing with life-threatening illnesses.

Under its deferred action program, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agency let undocumented immigrants avoid deportation if they or family members were undergoing medical treatment for serious illnesses. To participate, immigrants had to request a renewal every two years. On Aug. 7, the program was ended without any public notice, and immigrants who recently made requests were sent letters telling them the agency was no longer accepting the requests, and they would face deportation if they didn't leave the U.S. within 33 days.

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.