IMMIGRATION
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Representatives Clarke, Espaillat, Chu Call on DHS to Expand Immigrant Access to Public Benefits
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ASHINGTON, D.C.: On April 26, Representatives Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), and Judy Chu (CA-27) led 40+ of their colleagues in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to provide a public comment to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on the Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility. DHS recently issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to replace the Trumpera 2019 Public Charge Rule—which expanded the list of public benefits that immigrants were prohibited from using—with a rule that would not penalize non-citizens for accessing the public benefits that are available to them. “First, we want to express our support for the Department's effort to repair the damage caused by the harmful Trump Administration’s public charge rule, which disproportionately harmed communities of color,” the members wrote. “We strongly agree that ‘the 2019 public charge rule was not consistent with our nation’s values’ […] And while we
applaud the Biden Administration’s prompt efforts to end this Trump-era policy, our communities are still experiencing the consequences of the Trump Administration’s actions.” The members advocate for the inclusion of further provisions to ensure immigrant’s continued access to public benefits—through the clarification of exemptions and definitions to eliminate any confusion that may deter noncitizens from applying for benefits. “Data reveals that there is little awareness of this policy reversal among individuals in immigrant and mixed-status families,” the members added. “We urge DHS to provide funding to trusted community organizations that can conduct outreach and education to immigrants and their families in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner.” This clarification—along with public outreach—would stop hundreds of families from abstaining from the critical support they may need, such as housing or nutrition assistance. Unfortunately, the pandemic illustrated the impact of this public charge rule clearly, when hundreds
Rep Clarke Photo credit: Congresswoman Clarke’s Office
of Latinx and AAPI families did not apply for potentially life-saving assistance due to fears that it would negatively impact their immigration status or their family members. In addition to Reps. Clarke, Espaillat, and Chu, this letter was also signed by Representatives Alexandria OcasioCortez (NY-14), Juan Vargas (CA-15), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Suzanne
Bonamici (OR-01), Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), Rashida Tlaib (MI13), J. Luis Correa (CA-46), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03), Jimmy Gomez (CA34), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At Large), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Dina Titus (NV-01), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Albio Sires (NJ-08), Grace F. Napolitano (CA-32), Tony Cárdenas (CA-29), Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Ayanna Presley (MA-07), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D. (NY16), Bobby L. Rush (IL-01), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Jesús G. "Chuy" García (IL04), and Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18).l
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