Public Charge Rule is Here

After months of rumor and leaked rule drafts, the public charge rule has finally been published on the federal register. This rule, if made final, would pose a significant barrier to citizenship for lawful immigrant residents who have a prior history of using support programs for food, housing, and health care programs that they are legally authorized to use and need to help during tough economic times.

This proposed rule is harsh and would impose long-lasting, harmful impacts on our newest neighbors. Although the rule does not apply to refugees, asylees, and certain other immigrants, it is nonetheless confusing, and ultimately imposes an impossible choice for families: do they ask for the help they temporarily need or do they put themselves at risk for separation?

Here’s an example of who would be impacted by this harmful rule: Sonya is an immigrant who is married to a U.S. citizen. She and the children that she had with her husband have recently left their home because of domestic violence. They are living in a domestic violence shelter where the caseworker has helped connect them with food stamps (SNAP) and Medicaid so Sonya can support herself and her children until she is able to stabilize her finances. Now that she is leaving an abusive situation, she’ll need help adjusting her visa status to stay in the country and take care of her children. Luckily, she has a brother who is a naturalized citizen and can sponsor her application for her green card. But under this rule change, Sonya could be denied a green card for using SNAP and Medicaid even though it was to help her through the temporary financial crisis triggered by fleeing from a violent home.

Luckily, this rule is not in effect and we have the power to delay and deter the federal government from finalizing this change. Now that the rule is officially published, we, the public, have 60 days (or until December 10) to submit comments. The federal government must review and respond to every unique comment submitted on the rule. Please consider submitting a comment on the rule and sharing this alert with others in your network, asking them to comment as well.

SNAP is also under attack in the Farm Bill. As of September 30, the 2014 Farm Bill has lapsed with new language and no continuing resolution. Negotiations for a new Farm Bill are continuing, and although 3 out of the four lead negotiators are insisting on adopting the bipartisan Senate provisions that protect SNAP, one negotiator is still pressing for the harsh and unworkable cuts proposed in the House bill that would take food off the tables of 2 million Americans, including 60,000 right here in Washington state. Please continue to call our Senators and your Member of Congress, urging for adoption of the bipartisan Senate bill’s provisions that protect SNAP.

WHAT YOU CAN DO