Washington: The administration of US President Donald Trump announced Monday new rules that aim to deny permanent residency and citizenship to migrants who receive food stamps, Medicaid and other public welfare.
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The change threatens to set back the citizenship hopes of millions of mostly Hispanic migrants who work for low wages and depend in part on public services to get by.
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It also appeared to close the door for impoverished and low-skilled migrants outside the country hoping to legally obtain a foothold in the United States.
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Announcing a new definition of the longstanding “public charge” law, the White House said hopeful migrants will not be granted resident visas if they are likely to need public assistance.
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In addition, those already here and using public services will not be able to obtain green cards or US citizenship.
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“To protect benefits for American citizens, immigrants must be financially self-sufficient,” Trump said in a White House statement.
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Who does this impact?
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The change will affect hopeful migrants and existing legal residents who aim to apply for citizenship.
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The ruling could impact many of the 22 million non-citizen legal residents of the country, and the estimated 10.5 million unauthorized immigrants, most long-term residents in both groups.
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It immediately was thrown into question by pro-migrant activists planning to sue and from Democrats in Congress who said they would fight it.
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“This administration scapegoats immigrants, emboldens white supremacists, and tears families apart. This is racist policy. We will continue fighting to #ProtectFamilies,” tweeted Representative Donna Shalala.
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The White House said “large numbers” of migrants “have taken advantage of our generous public benefits, limited resources that could otherwise go to vulnerable Americans.”
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It said half of all non-citizen households include at least one person using Medicaid, the government-run health program, and that 78 percent of households led by a non-citizen with no more than a high school education use at least one welfare program.
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“Through the public charge rule, President Trump’s administration is reinforcing the ideals of self-sufficiency and personal responsibility, ensuring that immigrants are able to support themselves and become successful here in America,” said Ken Cuccinelli, acting Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
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Children mostly unaffected
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Cuccinelli said that the new standards would be used to judge non-citizen residents who use public services repeatedly after October 15, 2019.
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The services that count against an applicant include federal, state and local cash and income assistance, food stamps from the federal SNAP program, Medicaid, and subsidized housing.
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– Donald Trump, President of the United States of America###
Cuccinelli stressed that the new rules did not apply to public assistance programs for children or pregnant women, or emergency room care.
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As for hopeful immigrants, they would have to demonstrate the ability to live in the United States without resorting to public assistance.
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Changes planned since 2018
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The changes to the “public charge” rules have been in the works since 2018, as part of Trump’s campaign to slash both legal and illegal immigration.
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In May, Trump announced a broad plan for immigration “that protects American wages, promotes American values, and attracts the best and brightest from all around the world.”
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“As a result of our broken rules, the annual green card flow is mostly low-wage and low-skilled,” he said.
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He said the newcomers “compete for jobs against the most vulnerable Americans” and weigh heavily on welfare programs.
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“We’re not able to give preference to a doctor, a researcher, a student who graduated number one in his class from the finest colleges in the world – anybody.”
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‘Dire humanitarian impact’
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In a study last month, the Urban Institute said the new regulations, when proposed last year, were already driving immigrant families to curtail their use of public services.
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Some were pulling out of the SNAP program, leaving them with “insufficient resources for food and adequate nutrition.”
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In addition, staying away from Medicaid “put people in a position of forgoing treatment for chronic conditions and preventive medical care.”
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The National Immigration Law Center announced Monday that it would sue to block the implementation of the new rules, calling them a “racially motivated policy.”
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“This news is a cruel new step toward weaponising programs that are intended to help people,” said Marielena Hincapie, NILC executive director.
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“It will have a dire humanitarian impact, forcing some families to forego critical life-saving health care and nutrition. The damage will be felt for decades to come.”
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