Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 9/4/18

It's one of the most successful and least controversial federal nutrition programs, serving about half of all babies born in the U.S. But immigrants across the country are dropping out of WIC because they're afraid that the Trump administration could bar them from obtaining legal status if they take the aid, Pro Ag's Helena Bottemiller Evich reported over the weekend.

Local health providers say they've received panicked phone calls from both documented and undocumented immigrant families demanding to be dropped from the rolls of WIC, a federal nutrition program aimed at pregnant women and children. Agencies in at least 18 states say they've seen drops of up to 20 percent in enrollment, and they attribute the change largely to fears about the immigration policy.

What's at stake: Health advocates say the policy, which is still under review at the White House, could put more babies who are U.S.-born citizens at risk of low birth weight and other problems - undermining public health while also potentially fueling higher health care costs at taxpayer expense.

"The big concern for all of us in the WIC community is that this program is really about growing healthy babies," said Rev. Douglas Greenaway, president and CEO of the National WIC Association. "When any population that's potential eligible for this program is either driven away by changes in regulation or legislation or simply by political rhetoric inducing fear there are huge personal consequences to those babies and their families."

USDA studies decline in WIC: USDA, which oversees the WIC program, is conducting several studies to explore why eligible families are either not enrolling in WIC or discontinuing their participation, according to a spokesperson.

"The USDA is committed to the health and well-being of all WIC eligible mothers, infants and children and supports families seeking assistance," a spokesperson said in a statement to POLITICO. The department did not comment on whether officials are concerned about public charge fears driving participation down.