All events are Eastern Time unless otherwise indicated.
Date/Time
Date(s) - Dec 6
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
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Dial: 877-304-2955, Passcode: 682 377 4516
The JFNA Strategic Health Resource Center invites you to participate in the upcoming tutorial on the Public Charge issue to answer any questions you may have about the proposed regulation itself, the possible impact to Jewish Federations, our partner agencies, or others, or how to construct and submit a comment letter.
Last month, the Department of Homeland Security released a 447-page proposed regulation that expands the applicability of the Immigration Act of 1882’s Public Charge provision. “Public Charge” is a term used by U.S. immigration officials to refer to a documented immigrant who is considered likely to become primarily dependent on the government for subsistence (i.e., cash assistance for income maintenance or institutionalization for long-term care). This proposed regulation aggressively expands the concept of Public Charge to include even modest reliance on essential federal safety net programs (nutrition, housing, and health benefits like Medicaid), programs which support services provided by our network of partner agencies. Current Public Charge policy was intended to help legal immigrants become participating, productive, and healthy members of our society. However, DHS’ regulation turns that logic on its head. In short, because of this proposed regulation, immigrants could actually trigger a public health crisis by not getting the care they need, making them unhealthier as a result. It also will harm the workforces of our partner agencies, given their reliance on documented immigrants for services such as homecare. Experts estimate that the rule, if implemented, could chill as many as 26 million people nationwide from participating in these safety net programs.
