Thursday, November 15, 2018

MassBudget: Proposed "public charge" rule may stoke anxiety among current citizens as well as immigrants



  MassBudget: Proposed "public charge" rule may stoke anxiety among current citizens as well as immigrants     Proposed "public charge" rule
November 14, 2018




Proposed "public charge" rule may stoke anxiety among current citizens as well as immigrants

Our country has long welcomed and valued immigrants. But a "public charge" rule proposed by the Trump Administration could fundamentally change the nation's approach to immigration and could cause families to avoid or withdraw from necessary public benefits.
In its new brief, A Chilly Reception: Proposed Immigration Rule Creates Chilling Effect for New Immigrants and Current Citizens, the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) examines how Massachusetts might be affected by the proposed public charge rule. This rule would require immigrants applying for legal permanent residence (a "Green Card") to demonstrate that they have not, do not, and will not likely receive any of a list of publicly-funded benefits, including MassHealth (Medicaid) and SNAP ("food stamps").
Potentially 500,000 people in Massachusetts could withdraw from needed benefits out of fear or confusion about this rule that has not yet gone into effect. Of these, 160,000 are children, most of whom are U.S. citizens and not even directly affected by this proposed rule.
The proposed rule could directly affect people applying for a Green Card (or permanent residence), but similar standards would also apply to those seeking to extend a non-immigrant visa or change their temporary non-immigrant status in the U.S. (such as from a student visa to an employment visa).
Currently, the public charge determination only assesses whether an immigrant will rely primarily on government benefits for financial support. By contrast, the proposed new rule would require applicants to demonstrate that "they have not received, are not currently receiving, nor are likely in the future to receive public benefits," and the proposed rule would also significantly expand the list of public benefits taken into consideration when assessing whether someone might be deemed a "public charge." Reports indicate the "chilling effect" of this proposal has even reached immigrants on programs not on this list of potentially affected benefits.
The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts.

MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER
15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700
BOSTON, MA 02108


Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 15 Court Square, Suite 700, Boston, MA 02108

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