What is Public Charge?
Public charge is part of immigration law that has been used by federal authorities for decades. It is designed to determine whether someone may become dependent on government assistance benefits as their main source of support. If the government determines someone is likely to become a public charge, they can deny admission to the U.S. or refuse an application for lawful permanent residency.
What’s Happening and Why Are We Concerned?
After announcing its intention to make alterations to existing law in September 2018, the Department of Homeland Security published its final public change rule on the Federal Register on October 15, 2019. The rule’s proposed revisions would negatively impact many of the valued community members we serve.