Page 2 - ARUBA TODAY

A2 UP FRONT
Tuesday 13 augusT 2019
Continued from Front Immigration Services, said
It's part of a dramatic over- the rule change will ensure
haul of the nation's immi- those who come to the
gration system that the ad- country don't become a
ministration has been work- burden, though they pay
ing to put in place, despite taxes.
legal pushback. While most "We want to see people
attention has focused on coming to this country who
President Donald Trump's are self-sufficient," Cuc-
efforts to crack down on cinelli said. "That's a core
illegal immigration, includ- principle of the American
ing recent raids in Missis- dream. It's deeply embed-
sippi and the continued ded in our history, and par-
separation of migrant par- ticularly our history related
ents from their children, the to legal immigration."
new rules target people Migrants make up a small
who entered the United percentage of those who In this Aug. 11, 2019 photo, children of mainly Latino immigrant parents hold signs in support of
States legally and are seek- get public benefits. In fact, them and those individuals picked up during an immigration raid at a food processing plant in
ing permanent status. many are ineligible for such Canton, Miss., following a Spanish Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Canton, Miss.
Trump is trying to move the benefits because of their Associated Press
U.S. toward a system that immigration status.
focuses on immigrants' skills Immigrant rights groups And David Skorton, presi- ries that would be subject Active U.S. military mem-
instead of emphasizing the strongly criticized the dent and CEO of the Asso- to the new review, accord- bers are also exempt, as
reunification of families. changes, warning the rules ciation of American Medi- ing to the government. are refugees and asylum
Under the new rules, U.S. would scare immigrants cal Colleges said, "The con- Guidelines in use since 1999 seekers. And the rules will
Citizenship and Immigra- away from asking for need- sequences of this action will refer to a "public charge" as not be applied retroactive-
tion Services will now weigh ed help. And they voiced be to potentially exacer- someone primarily depen- ly, officials said.
whether applicants have concern the rules give offi- bate illnesses and increase dent on cash assistance, Green card hopefuls will
received public assistance cials too much authority to the costs of care when their income maintenance or be required to submit three
along with other factors decide whether someone condition becomes too se- government support. years of federal tax returns
such as education, income is likely to need public assis- vere to ignore," Under the new rules, the in addition to a history of
and health to determine tance in the future. "This change will worsen ex- Department of Homeland employment. If immigrants
whether to grant legal sta- The Los Angeles-based isting health inequities and Security has redefined a have private health insur-
tus. The rules will take ef- National Immigration Law disparities, cause further public charge as someone ance, that will weigh heav-
fect in mid-October. They Center said it would file a harm to many underserved who is "more likely than not" ily in their favor.
don't apply to U.S. citizens, lawsuit, calling the new rules and vulnerable popula- to receive public benefits According to an Associ-
though immigrants related an attempt to redefine the tions and increase costs for more than 12 months ated Press analysis of cen-
to the citizens may be sub- legal immigration system to the health care system within a 36-month period. sus data, low-income immi-
ject to them. "in order to disenfranchise overall, which will affect all If someone uses two ben- grants who are not citizens
Ken Cuccinelli, acting di- communities of color and patients," he said in a state- efits, that is counted as two use Medicaid, food aid,
rector of Citizenship and favor the wealthy." ment. months. And the definition cash assistance and Sup-
Cuccinelli defended the has been broadened to plemental Security Income,
move, insisting the admin- include Medicaid, housing or SSI, at a lower rate than
istration was not rejecting assistance and food assis- comparable low-income
long-held American values. tance under the Supple- native-born adults.
Pressed on the Emma Laza- mental Nutrition Assistance Non-citizen immigrants rep-
rus poem emblazoned be- Program, or SNAP. resent 6.5% of those par-
low the Statue of Liberty Following publication of ticipating in Medicaid and
that reads: "Give me your the proposed rules last fall, 8.8% of those receiving
tired, your poor, your hud- the Homeland Security De- food assistance.
dled masses yearning to partment received 266,000 The new public assistance
breathe free," he told re- public comments, more threshold, taken together
porters at the White House: than triple the average with higher requirements
"I'm certainly not prepared number. It made a series for education, work skills
to take anything down off of amendments to the final and health, will make it
the Statue of Liberty." rules as a result. more difficult for immigrants
A new Pew Research Cen- For example, women who to qualify for green cards,
ter survey released Monday are pregnant and on Med- advocates say. "Without a
found the American public icaid or who need public single change in the law by
is broadly critical of the ad- assistance will not be sub- Congress, the Trump public
ministration's handling of ject to the new rules during charge rules mean many
the wave of migrants at the pregnancy or for 60 days more U.S. citizens are being
southern border, with near- after giving birth. The Medi- and will be denied the op-
ly two-thirds of Americans care Part D low-income portunity to live together in
— 65% — saying the federal subsidy also won't be con- the U.S. with their spouses,
government is doing a very sidered a public benefit. children and parents," said
bad or somewhat bad job. And benefits received by Ur Jaddou, a former Citi-
The survey found broad children until the age of 21 zenship and Immigration
support for developing a won't be considered. Nor Services chief counsel who
pathway to legal status will emergency medical as- is now director of the DHS
for immigrants living in the sistance, school lunch pro- Watch run by an immigrant
country illegally. grams, foster care or adop- advocacy group. "These
On average, 544,000 peo- tion, student loans and are not just small changes.
ple apply for green cards mortgages, food pantries, They are big changes with
every year, with about homeless shelters or disas- enormous consequences
382,000 falling into catego- ter relief. for U.S. citizens."q