News > Immigration In The United States
ILCM’s Statement on Public Charge
Posted on Aug 15 2019
The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota condemns the publication of the public charge rule by the Department of Homeland Security this week. If an injunction does not stop this rule, it will take effect on October 15, 2019, and further strengthen Trump’s war on working class and non-white immigrants.
Even before the rule takes effect, we have seen its chilling effect, with people removing themselves and their children from public benefits for fear of hurting their immigration prospects. Nationally, one in seven adults in immigrant families reported forgoing public benefits in 2018 because of fear of the public charge rule. Among low-income families, this chilling effect was even stronger, affecting one adult in five.
This regulation aims to reduce the number of legal immigrants admitted into the United States and allowed to adjust to legal permanent residency each year. Its long, complex text causes fear and confusion felt not only by families, but by all of our communities.
“The public charge rule is one more example of the heartless and hateful anti-immigrant policies promulgated by this administration,” said Lenore Millibergity, acting executive director of the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota. “Immigrants are not a burden on our public benefits. They are less likely to use public benefit programs, using 39 percent fewer welfare and entitlements benefits per person than native-born Americans.
“The way to strengthen our country is to strengthen the families who live here. Today, one child in four has at least one immigrant parent. The administration’s bullying tactics, its use of fear and intimidation as a substitute for actual policy, do harm to these children and families and to the entire country.”
The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota stands with immigrant communities and will fight this rule.
We encourage our clients to consult with their attorney before withdrawing from benefits programs, and remind them that nothing has changed yet. ILCM will hold informational presentations on the rule beginning in a few weeks. You can request a presentation here. Stay tuned for more information.