National Housing Law Project On Discriminatory Dhs Rule: Punishing Immigrants Threatens Our Country
WASHINGTON D.C.—The National Housing Law Project (NHLP) today released the following statement by Chief Executive Officer Shamus Roller in response to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) release of a final rule that will allow them to more easily deny immigrants’ green card applications:
“DHS’s discriminatory ‘public charge’ rule punishes people for accessing public services that help us meet our basic needs and keep a roof over our head. Like the rest of Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda, it will tear apart families, push people into instability, and instill fear. The rule reveals what we already knew–by focusing on people that are in the naturalization process, the administration is targeting all families they consider immigrants, no matter how they came to our country. It threatens our nation’s public health and economic wellbeing, and the result will be increased poverty, children going hungry, and seniors foregoing critical care.
“We cannot be fooled by the administration’s attempts to deflect from its failures and let them scapegoat immigrants for problems that have worsened under their watch. The housing crisis hurts us all, regardless of immigration status, and this rule will just continue to fan the flames. It’s the next step in the administration’s campaign to close our doors to families who move here for the promise of freedom and opportunity.
“As we continue celebrating our country’s 250th Anniversary, we must recommit to welcoming immigrant Americans, not punishing them for accessing lifesaving, public services. Our country thrives when everyone, no matter what language we speak or how long we’ve lived here, has a safe and affordable place to call home.”
BACKGROUND:
- Immigrant families account for about 28% of the US population, and about half of the people in immigrant families are U.S. citizens – mostly children.
- The 2022 “public charge” rule protects lawfully present immigrants applying for green cards from unnecessary scrutiny and speculation during their application process.
- DHS’s own economic impact analysis predicted that, as a result of this proposal’s passage, hundreds of thousands of people will disenroll or forgo enrollment in lifesaving food, health care, and housing programs.
- During the public comment period, NHLP urged DHS to withdraw its harmful proposal and protect immigrants.
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