I have been trying to write a post about the proposed changes to the public charge policy for the parish blog and HOOO BOY I need a break from being calm and measured and not swearing.
There, that's better.
Is this issue on your radar? If not, allow me to put it there.
The discussion about how self-sufficient an immigrant needs to be is an old discussion. The phrase "public charge" dates from the late 19th century, when it became part of immigration law. An individual deemed likely to become a "public charge" -- someone in need of extensive government support -- could be denied entry to the country.
The public charge guidance that's been in place since 1999 focuses on cash support from the government-- things like TANF and SSI. If those payments make up more than half of an individual's financial support, or if an individual seems likely to require long-term care in a publicly funded institution, s/he can be labeled a public charge. A would-be immigrant can be denied entry to the country or a legal immigrant can be denied permanent resident status, based on the public charge policy.
In September, though, the wretched Scooby-Doo villains masquerading as leaders of the free world proposed a significant revision of the public charge policy. If their proposed rule takes effect, use of non-cash government benefits -- Medicaid, SNAP, subsidized housing -- could disqualify a person from obtaining permanent resident status. We're talking about legal immigrants, whose sponsors have submitted affidavits of support, being denied permanent residency. We're talking about people whose children are US citizens -- did I mention the part about legal immigrants? -- worrying that they might not be able to keep their families together.
This rule change will disproportionately affect people who are poor, disabled, pregnant, unborn, or very young. This is not a pro-life action. This is the very opposite of a preferential option for the poor and vulnerable.
I found multiple sources citing the DHS itself, assessing the likely impact of this rule change. Here's an example from the American Immigration Council:
DHS admits that many U.S. citizens will be affected by the rule because immigrant families will no longer take advantage of benefits. The agency’s list of negative effects includes “worse health outcomes … especially for pregnant or breastfeeding women, infants, or children,” as well as “increased use of emergency rooms,” “increased prevalence of communicable diseases,” “increased rates of poverty and housing instability; and reduced productivity and educational attainment.” In fact, even before the regulations have gone into effect, health providers report that fear among immigrant parents has already caused many to forego nutritional benefits for their U.S.-born children.
I went looking for that text on the DHS website and, strangely enough, it seems to have been scrubbed. I wonder if there is an online repository for all the things that have disappeared from .gov websites under the current troglodytocracy, all the pages that used to say climate change is real and mercury is bad for gestating babies and PREGNANT WOMEN NEED PRENATAL CARE.
In my world, it is better for pregnant legal immigrants to have access to prenatal care via Medicaid than for them to forgo prenatal care and place their babies at higher risk. In my world, it is better for legal immigrants with disabilities to receive services than to avoid them for fear of being denied a green card down the line. I could keep ranting for a while here, but maybe I will share some links instead:
- Thousand Days summarizes the impact for pregnant women, gestating babies, and young children
- AAP points out that 1 in 4 US children has at least one immigrant parent
- Kaiser Family Foundation contrasts the old guidance with the new version of the rule
- Center for American Progress describes the policy change as a form of targeted discrimination
- ASAN provides historical context (and the title of this post)
The public can comment on the proposed rule change until December 10.
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