Dear Members of the UCSF Community:
As leaders of an organization that is deeply committed to improving the health of our communities and advancing health worldwide, we deplore a proposed rule by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that would change “public charge” policies and greatly expand the conditions under which an immigrant applying for legal permanent residency (a green card) or seeking to immigrate into the U.S. can be denied.
I am bringing this to the attention of the UCSF community because it attacks our deeply held values of health equality and dignity for all peoples. U.S. immigration law has always barred immigrants at risk of becoming a dependent on certain public assistance from immigrating to the United States. However, acceptance of public health and nutritional benefits has been permitted since the 1990s. This proposal would bring sweeping change.
Under the proposed rule, the federal government would newly consider the use of certain public benefits – including non-emergency Medicaid, Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and various housing support programs – in determining an individual’s entry into the U.S. or adjustment to legal permanent resident status. In addition, medical conditions that are likely to require extensive hospitalization or institutionalization (cancer, heart failure, kidney failure, dementia, and many others) will weigh heavily against uninsured immigrant applicants.
We are against this proposed regulation for several reasons, including:
- It...