Administration Releases Proposed Immigration Rule on Public Charge
Last Saturday, the Department of Homeland Security announced its proposal to significantly change a longstanding immigration rule known as “public charge.” Under the proposal, the Administration redefines “public charge” as an immigrant who receives one or more public benefits, which would include Medicaid, Medicare Part D low-income subsidy, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), housing assistance, SSI, and other cash benefits. If this rule is implemented, immigrants on the path to citizenship who receive these benefits could be denied green cards or entry to the U.S. This means U.S. citizens and residents may not be able to welcome their parents or other family members into the U.S.; and many immigrant seniors and families will be afraid to go to the doctor, or get help paying for prescriptions or rent.
There will be a 60-day comment period once the rule is published in the federal register. It is incredibly important that groups and individuals who represent the aging community submit comments to formally oppose this change in policy. We will provide tools to respond and analysis of the proposed rule’s particular harms to older adults in the coming days.
Contributed from “Justice in Aging”
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