One Year Since Implementation

Dear Allies,

Today marks the solemn anniversary of the implementation of the DHS public charge rule. While we’ve all lived through many changes in the past year, our commitment to fighting public charge regulations & undoing the harm remains as strong as ever, especially in light of the COVID-19 crisis. We find ourselves in a profoundly different position than where we were last February, and we feel confident that a better future is around the corner. 

This week, we are sharing an updated fact sheet on public charge & COVID-19 and our sign-on letter in response to the U.S. Citizenship Act that was introduced last week.

In response to last week’s introduction of the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, PIF is continuing to circulate a sign-on statement underscoring the importance of immigrant access to benefits. Specifically, PIF looks forward to working with the President and Congress to addresses existing restrictions to benefits and ensure that otherwise-eligible immigrants who hold the transitional status established by the bill will be able to get health care through insurance programs like Medicaid, CHIP and through the Affordable Care Act’s Marketplace, including access to subsidies and tax credits. We also want to make sure that these immigrants can access food through programs like SNAP and WIC, safe, decent housing through programs like Section 8, and tax credits and other initiatives that provide a basic level of economic security. 

National, state and local organizations are encouraged to sign on using this link. If you have any questions, please reach out to Isobel Mohyeddin ([email protected]).

Today, PIF released a new fact sheet documenting the harm of public charge policy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The studies featured in the fact sheet detail how the Trump-era public charge regulations contribute to immigrant families’ fear to seek public benefits, amplify the COVID-19 pandemic’s health and economic harm, and undermine vaccination efforts. Research and reports from providers strongly support the quick and complete reversal of the public charge regulations, as well as accompanying outreach efforts by the Biden administration to make clear that it is safe for immigrant families to access health care, nutrition, housing and other economic support programs.

• CNN – Story on the Supreme Court’s decision to hear the appeal of the public charge injunction issued by the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. 

• San Jose Spotlight – Local activists say Biden’s not moving fast enough on immigration issues, including public charge.

• Tampa Bay Times – U.S. Rep. Castor backs public charge reversal.

In Solidarity,

Eddie Carmona & Renato Rocha, on behalf of the PIF Team

Visit us at https://protectingimmigrantfamilies.org/