[Los Angeles, CA]
Despite months of legal challenges, today, the Trump administration begins implementing its new public charge rule, putting in place a policy that is recklessly at odds with America’s ideals. These changes punish low-income families and threaten the health, nutrition, housing, and well-being of millions of children and their families, especially in California where one in two children have at least one immigrant parent.
The new rule now allows US immigration officials to factor income, education, and use of certain public benefits into decisions about whether to grant immigrants green cards or admission into the US. While the policy applies only to select public programs—and only a small segment of people are actually subject to the rule—it has and will continue to instill widespread rumors, confusion, and fear in California and nationwide. Use of the very programs that families rely on to be healthy and thrive will now be viewed as threats to their eligibility for legal status.
In response to the administration’s implementation of the rule, Mayra E. Alvarez, President of The Children’s Partnership, issued the following statement:
“While the federal administration continues to use fear to strip millions of children and families of their healthcare, food, and housing, we will continue arming families with facts. While the administration tries to erase the diversity of the millions of immigrants that contribute to our state and country, we will refuse to be erased and instead ensure a complete count in the 2020 Census. And while the federal administration tries to divide communities, we will unite and vote for leaders who will champion sound and compassionate health and immigration policies.”
As part of the Protecting Immigrant Families campaign, we stand with immigrants and come together to fight fear with facts. The fight to #ProtectFamilies is far from over.
“The best way to build a strong country is to ensure that every family who lives here has the food, medical care, shelter and other basics they need to thrive,” Alvarez said. “We will continue working with our partners to ensure that America lives up to its ideals as a nation.”
The Children’s Partnership is calling on all individuals and organizations in California to ensure they have accurate information about the new rule. To support immigrant families who are applying for permanent citizenship, or for those who are uncertain if they are affected by the public charge rule, share: keepyourbenefits.org or keepyourbenefits.org/es in Spanish. Families can also text “benefits” to 650-376-8006 or “libre” in Spanish.
For more resources for families, providers and advocates, check out our All in for Health campaign: www.allinforhealth.org/public-charge. To learn more about the Trump administration’s rule change and how you can push back, please follow us @KidsPartnership and visit www.protectimmigrantfamilies.org.
For legal advice, please visit the Immigration Advocates Network’s list of free legal services: www.immigrationadvocates.org/legaldirectory.
