Montgomery County, Maryland, Circuit Court Judge Durke Thompson on Thursday granted a preliminary injunction to reinstate health benefits for 13 immigrant children who Gov. Robert Ehrlich (R) removed from Medicaid, the Washington Times reports (Washington Times, 1/13). In the lawsuit, families of 13 immigrant children alleged that Maryland discriminated against non-U.S. citizens by cutting a $7 million Medicaid program that provided health benefits for pregnant women and about 4,000 children who are legal, permanent residents. Ehrlich later reinstated coverage for pregnant women enrolled in the program. In his ruling, Thompson said that the immigrant children in question deserved to have their coverage reinstated because they require consistent treatment and that it would be "appropriate enforcement of public policy" to reinstate the funds. Thompson's ruling reinstates the children's benefits retroactively to July 1. The ruling, however, does not address the constitutionality of cutting the program, a decision that will be made at a later date, Thompson said. Regan Bailey, a Legal Aid attorney representing the families, said he believes the decision will serve as a "legal precedent for everyone else whose benefits have been terminated." Ehrlich's legal team is currently reviewing the decision (Brewington, Baltimore Sun, 1/13).

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