The Center on Immigration and Child Welfare (CICW) released a fact sheet on the public charge rule that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued on August 14, 2019, that would change the definition of “public charge.”
The Administration’s rule would expand the definition of “public charge” as it applies to immigrants legally seeking to enter the United States or adjusting their legal status (green card status). For people entering the country, there has been a test of whether an individual legally entering the country will become a public charge to the country based on the use of particular human service supports. Under the new rule, the Administration will now consider the use of health care, housing, and nutrition programs as a potential sign that a person will become a public charge. The public charge was supposed to go into effect on October 15, 2019, but five federal district judges blocked the implementation of the rule.
CICW fact sheet provides additional background and information about changes to the public charge rule and a guide to the implications for immigrant families and their children. To access the fact sheet, click here, and for more resources from CICW, go to www.cimmcw.org.
