We applaud the Biden administration for living up to its commitment to end Trump’s public charge rule by deciding to stop defending the policy in court and successfully asking the Supreme Court to dismiss the cases. Instead, the Department of Homeland Security will return to its previous policy, which had been in effect for 20 years, making it safe for immigrants and their families to use health, nutrition, and housing programs they qualify for.
As we saw in our Healthy Minds Healthy Futures research, the Trump Administration’s public charge regulation created a “chilling effect” that resulted in up to hundreds of thousands of children in California losing access to life-supporting benefits. This policy change reflects a new era of humane immigration policy in our nation that centers the wellbeing of children and their families by pursuing policies that keep families and children connected to the support and services they need to stay healthy. It will also improve our response to the pandemic and mitigate the health and economic disparities of COVID-19.
We look forward to working with partners, families, Congress, and the Biden administration to ensure every family who calls this country home has the food, medical care, shelter and other basic needs to thrive.
