WASHINGTON — Following is the statement of APA President Sandra L. Shullman, PhD, regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to allow the administration to begin implementing a new “public charge” rule that would limit the eligibility of low-income immigrants to access federal programs, including health, housing and nutrition programs:
“Allowing this rule to go into effect will negatively affect the physical and mental health of those immigrants who are most in need.
“We recognize that the court’s decision may only be temporary, allowing the rule to be implemented while legal challenges continue in the lower courts. But this action will disproportionately affect the most vulnerable, low-income immigrants. It would effectively bar them from life-sustaining and potentially life-saving programs under the threat of losing a path to citizenship and potential deportation, leading to more immigrant family separations.”
The new public charge rule would make it harder for immigrants who accept public assistance to obtain green cards, which are often a path to citizenship. Under regulations put in place in 1996, a person is a public charge if he or she is "primarily dependent" on government assistance. That rule only counted cash benefits, such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or Supplemental Security Income from Social Security. The new rule expands those criteria to include noncash benefits, including Medicare and housing or food assistance.