The Public Charge Rule: A New Wealth Test for Immigrants WE MUST STAND UP FOR AN INCLUSIVE AND WELCOMING AMERICA.

For over 100 years the “public charge test” has been part of US immigration law, used to define those who depend on the government as their main source of support. Until now, “public charge” has been narrowly applied to people receiving government cash assistance or institutional long-term care.

The Trump Administration has published a Public Charge proposal in the Federal Register. It vastly expands the definition to include many health and welfare programs for children and families. The proposed rule could make working class and lowincome immigrants who participate in medical and social service programs–food stamps (SNAP), Medicaid, public housing, and more–ineligible to receive a green card.

The rule has not yet gone into effect, but news of it has frightened many needy immigrants away from crucial support to which they are legally entitled. With about one in four children having at least one immigrant parent, this issue touches millions and is critical now and for our nation’s future.

Key Points

• Housing assistance, food stamps and Medicaid are a gateway to economic self-sufficiency.
• Short-term costs of social assistance programs are greatly exceeded by long-term economic benefits.
• Studies show that affordable medication and health insurance improve health outcomes and reduce missed days of work or reliance on short-term disability. See Kaiser Foundation re public health implications: https://www.kff.org/disparities-policy/
• Restricting lower-income immigration will hurt the United State economically. See: How public charge rule will affect employers and immigrants http://bit.ly/ForbesPublicCharge
• Denying green cards to people with health problems will break up families.

PLEASE TAKE 15 MINUTES AND SEND COMMENTS BEFORE DEC. 10 TO: https://protectingimmigrantfamilies.org/

How To:

1. Review key points above.
2. Go on the comment link and use your own words to submit a comment.
3. Use facts. Cite studies, point out costs, make policy arguments, and include personal stories about yourself or others to illustrate your points.
4. Only one comment per person.
5. Share widely on social media and by email with family, friends and colleagues.

To see Administration’s proposed Public Charge rules: Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds: http://bit.ly/PublicChargeRules

Download the flyer HERE.

Under current law immigrant children cannot be detained by the government longer than 20 DAYS. The Trump Administration wants to be able to detain children and their families INDEFINITELY.

The Justice Department is trying to modify the decades-old settlement agreement Flores v. Reno to allow the government to detain children longer than the 20 days currently allowed, and in ICE detention centers as opposed to licensed facilities. The proposal has been published in the Federal Register and is open for public comments until November 6. We know that there are low-cost and effective alternatives to detention for children and families and that even short-term detention is harmful to children.

HELP STOP THIS BY WRITING BEFORE NOV. 6!

Key Points

• This would disregard basic human rights standards, including where and how children and families are housed and fed.
• Children who are detained may suffer long-term effects, including anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. See American Academy of Pediatrics, Detention of Immigrant Children http://bit.ly/AAPChildDetention.
• Alternatives to detention such as letting people out on bond and formal monitoring programs have been shown to be effective, more humane and far less costly. See National Immigration Forum, Math of Immigration Detention http://bit.ly/DetentionCost and Alternatives to Detention http://bit.ly/DetentionAlternatives

PLEASE TAKE 15 MINUTES AND SEND COMMENTS TO: http://bit.ly/stopfamilydetention

How To:

1. Review the key points listed above.
2. Click on the link above and use your own words to submit a comment arguing that the changes would be harmful and would not have the benefits suggested by the government.
3. Use facts. Cite studies, point out costs, make policy arguments, and include personal stories about yourself or others to illustrate your points.
4. Only one comment per person.
5. Share widely on social media and by email family, friends and colleagues.

To see the Administration’s proposal: Apprehension, Processing, Care, and Custody of Alien Minors and Unaccompanied Alien Children: http://bit.ly/FloresRules

Download the flyer HERE.