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Public Charge: New Threat to Immigrant Communities and our City

Philadelphia Bar Association

The “public charge” test has been part of federal immigration law for decades. It is designed to identify people who may, at some time in the future, depend on government benefits as their main source of support. A public charge determination can be grounds for the government to deny admission to the U.S. or refuse an application for lawful permanent residency.

The White House is currently reviewing a proposal that would change
longstanding “public charge” policy by expanding it to encompass additional programs and benefits that are currently not subject to the public charge consideration. The expansion would:

  • Include programs like Medicaid, CHIP, SNAP, WIC, LIHEAP, and others.
  • Allow the federal government to take into account use of programs by U.S. citizen children and other family members in making a public charge determination.

If adopted, this change will force immigrant families to think that they have to make impossible choices between meeting basic needs and keeping their families together in this country. The effects will be devastating for families, communities, and our City.

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