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Twenty-five years ago, Congress passed a law that blocked immigrants who permanently reside in the U.S. but had not had their “green card” for at least five years, among others, from accessing health care, food aid, or income assistance. It’s had devastating effects since, which have only become starker in these past years amidst an international pandemic.

This month, Senator Mazie Hirono introduced The Lifting Immigrant Families Through Benefits Access Restoration bill, or the LIFT the BAR Act. This critical legislation would restore access to public programs like Medicaid, CHIP, and SNAP by removing the five-year bar and other barriers that deny critical care and aid to people who are lawfully present and their families.

Denying health care and aid to otherwise-eligible people is cruel, inequitable, and illogical. Because of this policy, we have created a dangerous status quo where the social safety net is inaccessible to millions of families, particularly in communities of color — a danger that was highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now is the time to pass the LIFT the BAR Act. Send an email to urge your members of Congress to co-sponsor this bill to uplift immigrant families. >>>

Throughout the pandemic, immigrant essential workers have kept our communities going, showing up on the frontlines in health care, childcare, schools, and so many other spaces vital to everyday life. And yet, many of these same essential workers are struggling to keep their own families afloat because the bar denies them access to basic and life-affirming services.

When families can access the health care, food, and housing assistance that they need to thrive, we are all better off. We must pass the LIFT the BAR Act.

Call on your representatives today to co-sponsor the LIFT the BAR Act >>>

Thank you for joining in this important fight for families.

Sincerely,

Marielena Hincapié
Executive Director
National Immigration Law Center