Take Action: Proposed Rule Change - Public Charge

The Department of Homeland Security released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) last week proposing to change public charge rules. The proposal will cause even more harm, confusion, and fear in our community.

Federal statute permits USCIS to deny some people's visa or green card applications if they find that the person is likely to become a "public charge."  We sometimes call this the "public charge test" in the visa/green card application process.

The proposal itself states that it will likely cause immigrants and mixed-status families, including U.S. citizens and children, to forgo or disenroll from a broad array of programs and create harm in communities, including but not limited to:

• Worse health outcomes.

• Malnutrition.

• Increased use of emergency rooms.

• Higher prevalence of communicable diseases.

• Increased rates of uncompensated care.

• Increased poverty, housing instability, and reduced educational attainment and productivity.

• Lower revenues for healthcare providers.

• Decreased sales for grocery retailers.

• Economic impacts on agricultural producers.

• Financial strain on landlords.

• Increased administrative costs and burdens on state and local benefit agencies.

Learn more and take action below with resources from the Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition.

Do you represent an organization? Be sure to sign on to PIF's comment opposing the rule change.

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