Fact check: What is the USCIS deferred action program for medical cases and how did it change under Trump?

1. Summary of the results

The USCIS medical deferred action program was a discretionary immigration relief that allowed individuals with severe medical conditions to temporarily stay in the US for treatment unavailable in their home countries, including work authorization ^[1]. In August 2019, under the Trump administration, USCIS abruptly terminated the program ^[2], sending letters to immigrants giving them 33 days to leave the country ^[3]. The program previously allowed two-year stays for critical treatment ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial details provide important context:

• The program specifically helped patients with life-threatening conditions like cystic fibrosis, cancer, cerebral palsy, and muscular dystrophy ^{[2] [4]}
• After the termination, cases were to be redirected to ICE rather than being handled by USCIS ^[4]
• The ACLU filed a lawsuit challenging the decision, arguing it was racially motivated and arbitrary ^[2]
• Due to widespread public condemnation and advocacy efforts, the Trump administration eventually reversed course ^[5]
• While the program was reinstated for cases pending as of August 7, no new applications would be accepted ^[3]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question doesn't capture several important aspects:

• The temporary nature of the program - it was never meant to provide permanent immigration status ^[1]
• The human impact - families like the Sanchez family faced potential life-threatening consequences if deported ^[4]
• The discretionary nature of the program - even after reinstatement, approval was not guaranteed ^[5]

Those benefiting from strict enforcement would support the termination (ICE, immigration hardliners), while medical institutions, human rights organizations (like ACLU), and affected families would advocate for the program's continuation.