A Victory for Children and Families! The Administration’s “Public Charge” Rule Blocked by Federal Courts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 15, 2019, Chicago, IL – On Friday and again this Monday, five different federal courts blocked the Trump administration's “public charge” rule and prevented it from taking effect as planned on October 15th. The rule would penalize immigrants applying for permanent status in the United States if they or their family members used certain public benefits, including Medicaid, housing assistance, or food assistance. While these are all benefits that immigrant parents and families are permitted to use, utilizing them would be taken into consideration in whether someone is likely to become a “public charge” and therefore ineligible for permanent immigration status.

“We’re thrilled to see swift and consistent decisions from multiple courts, each indicating that the rule is likely to be found unlawful,” said Young Center’s Policy Director Jennifer Nagda. “As we argued in our comment to the federal government, the rule targets immigrant families by forcing parents to choose between the services they need to care for their children or providing them with safe, stable futures. In short, the rule is yet another attack on children.”

The injunctions filed by the courts will likely be appealed by the administration. But in the meantime, the proposed rule has already taken a significant toll within immigrant communities. Recent reports confirm that families are un-enrolling or opting out of programs that they are entitled to access under the law. For example, Hispanic children experienced the sharpest rise in uninsured rates compared to children from other racial groups.

“We are grateful for the work of the Protecting Immigrant Families campaign, the National Immigration Law Center (NILC), and the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) and for their leadership on this issue. While we celebrate this victory, we know that the fight is not over. All children have the right to safety, nutritious food, and access to healthcare. Regardless of race, economic background, or immigration status. We’ll continue the fight to protect these rights and advocate for an immigration system that fully recognizes all children’s potential and humanity.”

The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights is a non-profit organization that protects and advances the rights and best interests of immigrant children and advocates for an immigration system that treats children as children first.

For press inquiries, please contact Noorjahan Akbar at media@theyoungcenter.org or 202-725-7184.