Friend,

"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free."

Last week's ruling by the Supreme Court in favor of President Trump's "public charge" rule is antithetical to those words, emblazoned at the feet of the State of Liberty -- the beacon of freedom and welcome for our country.

This "public charge" rule makes it more difficult for immigrants who use public benefits like Medicaid and food stamps to become permanent residents. When it was first proposed in 2018, I spoke out immediately and staunchly against it -- and I speak out again today because it's cruel. And the cruelty is the point.

This ruling is outrageous, and our friends and family need to know it: Share the news about the new "public charge" rule today.

Fourteen percent of our total population is immigrants, with 25 percent of Washingtonians living in a household with at least one immigrant. So for us, this is personal.

And because of this rule, more than 140,000 people in Washington could lose their health insurance -- forcing folks into emergency rooms for routine medical care, while women could lose routine reproductive services and expectant parents could lose prenatal care.

But again: It's purposely cruel. No one, immigrant or otherwise, should be penalized for needing help to get on their feet. We've seen it time and time again from this administration, and this proves there's no end in sight. But no matter the battle, I will keep fighting for better.

The "public charge" rule is dangerous, and our friends and family need to know it: Share the news on Facebook right now.

Very truly yours,

Jay