- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in a new window)
- Click to share on Twitter (Opens in a new window)
- Click here to share on LinkedIn (Opens in a new window)
- Click to email a friend (Opens in a new window)
What immigrants affect the public charge rule? 1:41
Editor's Note: Steve Tobocman is a former representative of the House for the State of Michigan and executive president of Global Detroit, a nonprofit organization focused on inclusive economic development strategies for immigrants. The opinions expressed in this column belong exclusively to the author.
(CNN) - On January 27, the United States Supreme Court cleared the way for the implementation of the changes in the so-called “public charge” rule, which were promoted by the Donald Trump government. This is a monumental modification in the federal immigration policy that is projected to impact some 24 million Americans and millions more who are looking to reach the United States.
Essentially, the new rule creates a wealth test for immigrants that is based on factors such as their age, health, education, income and resources. U.S. immigration officials They can use the results of this evaluation to deny applications from those seeking to be admitted to the country or from those trying to obtain legal permanent residence (commonly known as “green card”), under the probability that the person will become "Public charge" by needing government benefits.
MIRA: What is the public charge rule and how will it affect immigrants in the US?
Ironically, the change in Trump's public charge rule promises devastating economic consequences. In a report published in November 2019, the Fiscal Policy Institute, an independent and nonpartisan research organization, predicted that the new measure would reduce the country's economy by $ 24 billion a year, with a related loss of 164,000 jobs in the whole country and detriment of tax revenues in all states. When the United States closes its doors to those seeking economic opportunities and the "American dream", as well as to those who wish to reunite with the family that is already here, we close the doors to future generations of our economy.
The new rule allows officials to reject applications for permanent residence or immigration from those who could one day use public benefits, even suggesting that only families earning more than 250% of the federal poverty level or $ 64,375 to A family of four must be favorably rated when making public charge decisions.
- READ: The US Supreme Court endorses a rule that could reshape legal immigration
More than half a dozen legal appeals were filed when the measure was announced and five district courts granted temporary precautionary measures, which paused the implementation of the new public charge rule until those cases could be fully prosecuted. However, the Supreme Court decision leaves these precautionary measures in effect and allows the changes to take effect this week. Appeals will continue in federal courts, but now millions of US families. They may face the decision to choose between accessing food, housing and health care benefits - to which they legally qualify - or being able to seek future changes in their immigration status, such as requesting a “green card”.
Immigrant advocates repudiate public charge rule 2:45Trump's public charge rule restructures our national immigration policy. I am pretty sure that my grandfather would not have passed the test when he arrived in the United States fleeing anti-Semitism (just in time to avoid the Holocaust) and I suspect that tens of millions of Americans also track their lineage to immigrant relatives who could not have shown profits that will reach the type of thresholds implemented by the new measure.
Economists predict (and advocates claim that they have already observed it) that the change in the rule will have a "crippling effect" on immigrant families - including those with children who are US citizens -, deterring them from accessing housing, food programs and nutrition, as well as medical care, including the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), to which they have a legal right. This "crippling effect" occurs because, even if the new rule does not apply to them, immigrant families may worry that access to these benefits will jeopardize their legal status.
- LOOK: What you should know about the rule that could modify legal immigration
The “crippling effect” also means that fewer immigrant families will access these programs and, therefore, there will be less expense in grocery stores where the benefits of the SNAP stamp are redeemed, as well as along the production chain of food, including delivery, storage, processing and even agriculture. There will be less spending on housing. Hospitals and other health care providers who serve Medicaid and CHIP clients will also pay significant costs. The policy will increase uncompensated and emergency care.
But the real economic costs are much higher. In fact, welcoming immigrants has been the engine of US prosperity for centuries. Closing that door to all those who cannot pass a fairly substantial income test changes our national character.
public charge Economy SNAP