Last week, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas issued a new comprehensive policy to limit enforcement actions in & near protected areas
** DHS's New Sensitive Locations Memo
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Dear Allies,
This week, are sharing a new policy from DHS that will curb immigration enforcement in sensitive locations, a new fact sheet from CMS that outlines eligibility for health care options for Afghan evacuees, as well as new research from MPI on Medicaid access and participation.
** New DHS Sensitive Locations Memo: Guidelines for Enforcement Actions in or Near Protected Areas
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Last week, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas issued a new, comprehensive policy to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) ([link removed]) to limit their enforcement actions in or near protected areas. The policy provides a more thorough and non-exhaustive list of locations where immigration agents are restricted from conducting enforcement actions, including places where children gather such as playgrounds and recreation centers and locations providing social services and disaster relief.
This new policy took effect immediately after its release on October 27th, and is a welcome step in protecting immigrants and their families in accessing care and services without fear of detention. For more information, read NILC’s ([link removed]) & CLASP’s ([link removed]) statements.
** New Fact Sheet from CMS: Health Coverage Options for Afghan Evacuees
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Earlier this week, CMS released a fact sheet on health coverage options for Afghan evacuees ([link removed]) . According to the fact sheet, Afghan evacuees can access health insurance through Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Health Insurance Marketplace, or Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA or other health coverage provided by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)). Read the fact sheet for more information on eligibility and guidance for both Afghans with a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) and parolees.
** New MPI Brief: Medicaid Access and Participation: A Data Profile of Eligible and Ineligible Immigrant Adults
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The Migration Policy Institute has published an issue brief ([link removed]) that examines eligibility for and participation in Medicaid by foreign-born, non-elderly adults (ages 19 to 64). The brief also presents estimated participation rates for immigrant adults eligible for the program and provides an overview of the characteristics of those who are excluded. The analysis finds that 9.5 million non-elderly foreign-born adults had incomes that met state eligibility thresholds, but nearly half of them (4.3 million adults) did not qualify for Medicaid due to immigration-status restrictions.
** Public Charge in the News
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* Philadelphia Inquirer ([link removed]) – Great Q&A with immigrant advocates and public health experts on immigrants’ concerns with COVID-19 vaccination, including public charge.
* LAIst ([link removed]) – State official says there’s need in immigrant communities for California’s rent relief program, public charge concerns are driving down application rates.
* Mother Jones ([link removed]) – On the new DHS directive barring ICE enforcement in “protected areas,” and naming specifically health care and social services sites.
In Solidarity,
Eddie Carmona & Renato Rocha, on behalf of the PIF Team
Visit us at [link removed]
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