The Trump administration has proposed changes to immigration rules that many experts believe could put the health of millions of families at risk. The proposed changes would expand the “public charge” rule so immigrants could be denied admission to the U.S. or permanent residency if they or their dependents use certain health, food, and housing programs. These changes could increase poverty, stress, and fear among immigrant communities.
These proposed changes have not yet been implemented. Public comment can have an impact on whether the changes are made.
What you can do:
- Make a comment in the federal register. Because the government must take all comments into account before finalizing the rule, you have the opportunity to affect the outcome. Advocates have come together to create an easy-to-use comment portal at ProtectingImmigrantFamilies.org. Using this portal, you can let the government know how this rule would affect you, your family, your community, and our country. If you do not want to include any personal information, a friend or representative can submit a comment for you. You have until Dec. 10 to submit comments.
- Make a comment on behalf of someone you know. You can submit multiple comments on behalf of friends, clients, or anyone who doesn’t want to disclose their personal information. This FAQ shares information about submitting comments on behalf of others, as well as submitting comments that have been translated into English.
- Share this information with your networks, and encourage them to speak out.
More information:
- FAQ explaining how and why to make public comments about this rule change from the Center for Law and Social Policy
- FAQ on the “public charge” rule from Protecting Immigrant Families and Moms Rising
- Article about the negative health impacts of the proposed rule change from Health Affairs