Breaking public charge news!! + messaging for immigrant families
03/10/21
We have very positive news to share this morning!! Please also see information below about an upcoming training on immigrants and benefits - this is a very important time to make sure all eligible households get the benefits they are eligible for!
The Trump-era Public Charge Regulations are NO LONGER in Effect!!!
Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Justice decided to stop defending in court the public charge regulations that were implemented by the Trump Administration. As a result, pending legal appeals were dismissed including by the Supreme Court. This means that the Trump Administration’s 2019 public charge rule is permanently blocked, nationwide.
The US Department of Homeland Security released a statement as well - click here to read it. DHS stated that the administration has determined defending the final public charge rule is "neither in the public interest nor an efficient use of limited government resources."
The US Department of Homeland Security released a statement as well - click here to read it. DHS stated that the administration has determined defending the final public charge rule is "neither in the public interest nor an efficient use of limited government resources."
Below is some helpful messaging from the national Protecting Immigrant Families campaign! Please share this information widely.
What does this mean?
The Trump-era public charge regulations are no longer in effect. DHS/USCIS will follow the policy in the 1999 Interim Field Guidance. Under this policy, it is safe for immigrants and their families to access health, nutrition, and housing programs for which they are eligible.
The Trump-era public charge regulations are no longer in effect. DHS/USCIS will follow the policy in the 1999 Interim Field Guidance. Under this policy, it is safe for immigrants and their families to access health, nutrition, and housing programs for which they are eligible.
What should you tell immigrant families?
- The Biden Administration has taken action to end the Trump public charge policy.
- Now that federal courts have dismissed the government’s appeals, the Trump public charge policy is no longer in effect.
- It is safe for immigrants and their families to use health, nutrition, and housing programs they qualify for.
This is a real testament to the work advocates have been doing across the country to lift up the harm these rules have spread across immigrant communities. Thank you all very much for your work! We have a lot to do to ensure immigrant communities feel safe accessing benefits they are eligible for - but for today, this is a really significant win.
MLRI: Immigrants and Public Benefits - Basic Public Benefits Advocacy Training
To register, click here.
This all-day training offers the nuts-and-bolts on how immigration status affects eligibility for benefits for non-citizen immigrants and refugees. The trainers include both immigration lawyers and legal experts in different public benefit programs. It covers basic information about immigrants in Massachusetts, how immigration status affects public benefits in general and an overview of the most commonly seen types of immigration status and documents. It will include the latest information about the public charge updates, as well as a "know your rights" session for community organizations to address fears among immigrants whom they serve. In the afternoon, hear from experts on the immigrant eligibility rules in specific programs including the TAFDC, EAEDC and SSI cash assistance programs, the SNAP (food stamps) program, and MassHealth and other subsidized health programs. Also addressed is immigrant eligibility for state and federal subsidized housing programs and EA shelter.--