A Green Card Or Health Care? Possible Trump Proposal Could Make Legal Immigrants Have To Choose
Experts are most worried about the way the rule, which would expand the definition of "public charge," will affect children's health. The proposal is set to include: children’s health insurance; Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Plan (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps); Supplemental Nutritional Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC; tax credits for low- to moderate-income families; and housing and transit subsidies.
The New York Times:
How Trump’s Plan For Immigrants On Welfare Could Hurt A Million New Yorkers
Buying fresh vegetables for children, heating an apartment, using Medicaid to manage diabetes. Those are all legal means of support provided by the government for low-income residents of the United States. But a new rule in the works from the Trump administration would make it difficult, if not impossible, for immigrants who use those benefits to obtain green cards. New York City officials estimated that at least a million people here could be hurt by this plan, warning that the children of immigrants seeking green cards would be most vulnerable. (Robbins, 8/13)
Seattle Times:
As Trump Considers Penalties, Seattle-Area Immigrants Turn Down Public Benefits They’re Entitled To Claim
A new wave of fear is running through immigrant communities. So far, the Trump administration has adopted policies cracking down on those living here illegally. Now, it is turning its attention to immigrants here legally who it contends are a drain on taxpayer money. According to leaked documents, the Department of Homeland Security plans to propose a rule making it harder for some immigrants to stay here if they or family members have used any of a wide array of public benefits, including food stamps, Medicaid, subsidized insurance through the Affordable Care Act, support for pregnant women and new mothers, housing vouchers and the earned income tax credit. (Shapiro, 8/12)
Meanwhile, in other news —
NPR:
Judge Pleased With Government Effort But Hundreds Of Children Still In Custody
In documents filed Thursday, government officials told U.S. District Court Judge Dana Sabraw that 559 children between the ages of 5 and 17 have yet to be reunited with their families. Of those, 365 have parents who were deported, and officials have contact information for all but five. (Romo, 8/10)
