630+ Groups Sign Comment to DHS!

Dear Allies,

The first step in the Biden Administration’s rulemaking process on public charge is now behind us! Once the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has concluded its review of comments it received, we can expect to see a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) followed by another public comment period. As we get closer to that next step, we will be sure to share details and opportunities on how to engage!

Keep reading for the final update on the sign-on comment that was submitted last week, plus two new reports on language access and the public charge chilling effect.

PIF’s ANPRM Sign-on Comment

Last Friday, PIF submitted the sign-on comment in response to DHS’ Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on public charge. The comment was signed by 630+ organizations from 46 states and DC, representing diverse sectors ranging from faith to nutrition to reproductive health groups. A huge thank you to every organization that signed on -- we couldn’t have done this without you! We are so thankful and appreciative of your contributions in this comment strategy, and we hope to work with you and your organization again in the future. Please find a copy of the submitted comment along with the full list of organizational signatories here.

 

NEW MPI REPORT:
A Framework for Language Access: Key Features of U.S. State and Local Language Access Laws and Policies

A new report from the Migration Policy Institute analyzes key elements of language access laws and policies across 40 states and localities. Although these laws and policies often take cues from federal guidance on language access, they also contain many unique and innovative elements necessary to ensure language access in the day-to-day functions of state and local governments. Among the major elements of these laws and policies, this study identifies two broad categories: agency responsibilities and policy administration. Within these categories, the report provides a wide array of examples of state and local approaches to issues such as document translation, interpretation, staff training, agency oversight and accountability, advisory councils and technical assistance, and community involvement.

NEW RESEARCH:
Putting out the ‘unwelcome mat:’ The Announced Public Charge Rule reduced safety net enrollment among exempt noncitizens

A new research article from ideas42 measures the chilling effect of the public charge rule by testing the hypothesis that 2018 Trump-era proposed changes increased psychological and learning burdens for immigrants in low-income households well beyond those directly impacted by the rule. Their findings include that even though the WIC program was excluded from the proposed rule, there were reductions in overall WIC use after the announcement. In addition, they find that SNAP enrollment decreased differentially after the announcement for noncitizens, nearly all of whom were likely exempt from the rule.

 

Public Charge in the News

  • BBC – A look at the barriers facing immigrant families in claiming the Child Tax Credit, including persistent public charge concerns. Shoutout to PIF partners CLASP and CASA de Maryland, both of whom worked with the reporter on this story.

  • New York Times – On the impact and limitations of New York’s excluded workers fund.

  • Chicago Sun-Times – As new immigrant health rights and financing information campaign launches, PIF partner ICIRR warns public charge concerns remain a barrier to care for immigrant families.

In Solidarity,

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

Visit us at https://protectingimmigrantfamilies.org/
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