The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services wants to expand a Biden-era policy known as public charge that could further curtail immigrants’ use of public benefits.
That means that migrants’ use of safety net programs, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Medicare, could be considered when determining whether they should be granted further legal status, such as a green card.
Homeland Security Department officials released a new proposed regulation this week that’s set to be published in the Federal Register on Wednesday. It would rescind a Biden-era version of the public charge rule, and expand the scope of what public benefits may be considered by immigration officers, to any social or health services people may use.
“Rescission would restore broader discretion to evaluate all pertinent facts and align with long-standing policy that aliens in the United States should be self-reliant and government benefits should not incentivize immigration,” the proposal states.
Advocates were quick to criticize the proposal, arguing its new broad scope is too vague and could disincentivize the use of the benefits by immigrants who need them and qualify for them.
“This dangerous proposal puts the nation’s health and economic wellbeing at risk,” said Adriana Cadenas, executive director of the Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition. “By creating chaos and confusion, it deters lawfully present immigrants and U.S. citizens from seeking health care and help they need and qualify for under federal law.”
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Trump in his first term had expanded the scope of benefits that could count as a “public charge” on someone’s immigration record, and therefore make it harder for them to receive permanent status.
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