In 2020, the Supreme Court passed the “public charge” rule, making it harder for legal immigrants to access public health benefits.
Many consider this rule a “wealth test,” or a way to attack poor immigrants. It went into effect February 24, impacting the lives of millions of immigrants seeking a green card.
The rule is anti-poor and dangerous for low-income people. An estimated 4.7 million immigrants use Medicaid in order to access healthcare…
Now, they may unenroll from Medicaid to stay legally eligible for a green card, neglecting their health and (in some cases) risking their lives.
In 2017, 43% of immigrant families used SNAP (food stamps) to buy food, but since Trump announced the ‘public charge’ rule, close to 10% of legally-eligible families have stopped participating.
Meanwhile, 25,000 immigrant families are at risk of being evicted from their public or subsidized housing, leaving families vulnerable to homelessness.
There’s a myth that immigrants take public benefits without working. Of the immigrants who received Medicaid and SNAP in 2015, 93% were employed, or married to someone who was.
Taking away these public benefits is a blatant attack on immigrants rights that makes life harder for those already struggling.
