CCC Statement On Changes to the Public Charge Rule

Released August 14, 2019

CCC joins partnering organizations in denouncing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) changes to the public charge rule.
The change, officially published today and scheduled to go into effect October 15, will lead to more children in poverty, more families without housing, and more families going hungry.
This Trump administration rule will place immigrants who use certain health, housing, and food benefits at risk of being denied their applications for green cards or visas. This rule also adds new barriers to immigrants seeking legal permanent residence, including by implementing a wealth test for applicants.
This rule would put families in the unbearable position of having to choose between food, housing, and health, or seeking their legal permanent resident status. Already, New York has witnessed the widespread fear and confusion that has led many immigrants to disenroll or forego from enrolling in critical services, even when they would not be directly impacted. The publication of the final rule further threatens the health and wellbeing of families in New York and across the country.
The public charge rule is part of a barrage of inhumane attacks against immigrants, ranging from threats to housing for mixed-status families, the separation of children and families and their detention, to the inclusion of a citizenship question on the Census.
We support litigation that has been filed against this rule seeking to stop its implementation on October 15th. We also urge Congressional action on the rule and support city and state efforts to increase supports to immigrant families potentially impacted by this rule.
New Yorkers seeking legal advice regarding the public charge rule can call the Office for New Americans hotline at 1-800-566-7636.