The Cities for Action coalition denounces the Trump Administration’s proposed “public charge” rule as a radical attempt at a back-door immigration ban. If enacted, the proposal would upend longstanding policy, making large numbers of immigrants potentially ineligible for green cards or entry into the United States if they lawfully use one of a wide range of government programs upon which millions of hard-working families depend. This would include many essential non-cash benefits such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid that exist to supplement working families’ resources in times of need. By forcing immigrants and their families to make a choice between obtaining permanent residency and utilizing public programs that support health, nutrition, and economic security, this proposal would deal immigrant communities a harsh blow, particularly for the elderly and people with disabilities. It would stand to increase poverty and inequality among already vulnerable populations and damage our local economies.
Contrary to the Trump Administration’s rhetoric, immigrants make crucial contributions to our local economies and cultural life. They are no more likely to utilize benefits programs than their U.S. citizen counterparts. Our coalition of over 175 mayors and county executives from across the country knows that immigrants help our communities flourish. We view this proposed rule change as an attack on middle and working class immigrant families, yet another effort to reimagine our country as something other than what it is: a proud nation that has always grown and thrived because of the strength and hard work of immigrants.