Public Charge & Immigration Policy 
​(FEDERAL) ​

What it is about?

The Trump administration has now moved to target legal immigration and immigrants applying to become first time legal residents. Historically, Public Charge is an official test immigration agents conduct on first time legal permanent resident applicants to assess if they will be a "charge" or a nuisance to the U.S public system. If considered public charge, not only will immigrants get denied their adjustment of legal status, but could face deportation in extreme circumstances. Historically, public charge could be determined for people that have used Medicaid to house their elders in senior centers or have applied for TANF cash benefits. The Trump administration filed to change policy to expand to SNAP, Section 8, Medicaid (NY exempt) and Medicare part D (medicine assistance for people with disabilities).

UPDATE: Breaking news states that in addition to this, the Trump administration now has also filed rule changes on deportation grounds on public charge. In order for change to happen DOHS opened a 60 day public comment period before making final decision. This ended on December 10,2018. There is still no decision made.
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​More Info:  https://protectingimmigrantfamilies.org/

What SEPA Mujer did?

SEPA Mujer acted quickly on a local level, organizing dozens of people to submit their testimonies and also helped translate and submit testimonies for people who were unable to do so themselves. We quickly moved to start an educational campaign to alert service providers and community members that no changes have been made, but action is required to stop the dangerous changes. SEPA Mujer also enacted an online campaign to inform and engage people into action on Long Island.

What’s going on now and what’s next?

Thanks to the swift and coordinated action of national campaigns, thousands of public comments were submitted. It is presumed that more so against the changes, however, we have yet to hear back on a final decision on policy changes to public charge. After the end date for public comments, the Trump administration moved to shutdown the federal government stalling even more the process for decision making.

If you’d like to take action, visit protectingimmigrantfamilies.org.

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