About the Administration’s Proposed "Public Charge" Rule Seeking to Establish Strict, Unnecessary Requirements Harming Families
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Earlier this week, we shared the need for comments by Nov. 7th on a proposed rule seeking to END FLORES PROTECTIONS for children and families. Please continue to go
here
to speak out about detention of children. Meanwhile...
Another new proposed rule from the Department of Homeland Security would greatly expand who would be deemed to be a
public charge
, and would drastically reshape who we welcome in our society.
Go
here
for resources to help you protect kids & families, and use this
alert
to share info. & gather comments!:
WHO would be affected?
The proposed rule would affect lawfully present immigrants seeking to become LPRs or “green card” holders and individuals seeking to immigrate to the U.S. It would place a higher value on those who are affluent, shutting out hard-working immigrants and their families. With one in four American children having at least one immigrant parent, this issue touches millions.
The rule would NOT apply to refugees, asylees, victims of trafficking, or LPRs seeking to adjust for citizenship.
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Before the government can make this change,
You’re Invited to Comment by
Dec. 10
on the Proposed Regulation & its impacts upon immigrants who contribute to our U.S. communities and congregations!
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What Determines Who is a Public Charge NOW?:
Currently, a petitioning sponsor’s income is considered in determining if someone is a “public charge;” now meaning one primarily dependent on the government for subsistence through cash assistance or long term institutionalization at government expense.
What Would Change Under the Newly Proposed Rule?
Under the proposed rule, the types of public benefits that count against an immigrant are greatly expanded. New financial thresholds for households would highly favor the wealthiest immigrants, and--when deciding if persons could become a “public charge” in the future--
Immigration Officials Could Discriminate Against Applicants Based on Their:
*age *health *education level *English proficiency *income level
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Already immigrants are eligible for very few public benefits.
Under the proposed rule, immigrant families would be forced to make impossible choices; maintain your immigration status to keep your family stable and protected from deportation, or use the few public benefits you qualify for that help keep your family fed, healthy and sheltered. Supporting families protects public health, ensures children thrive, & is good for all communities!
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Comment by Dec. 10 on Public Charge!
Some Sample Comments Below, and Go
HERE
to Submit Yours!
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Use these suggestions to inspire your own unique comment—as duplicate comments are only counted once!
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Talking about Public Charge from a Faith Perspective
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Use these suggestions to inspire you to make the points that matter & connect most to your beliefs:
- The proposed change to public charge is another way a punitive immigration system can harm immigrants.Even before implementation, fears of the changes have led many immigrants to withdraw from the few resources for which immigrant families are eligible.
- Our faith calls us to stand up for people and families facing persecution and oppression at the hands of the powerful. As Christians, we believe that all people are created in God’s image, regardless of their wealth or background.
- This proposal would create an immigration system that favors the wealthy, and would eliminate hard working families who are building their future.
- This proposal would force families to choose between being together with stability and meeting basic human needs like food and medical care.
- The proposed changes will also affect U.S. citizens who are part of mixed immigration status families, including kids and pregnant women who are in families that use these programs to fulfill basic needs.
See multiple resources
here
to protect kids & families, and use this
alert
to share info. & gather comments!:
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HOW Can You Submit Your Comments?
Note that you can copy and paste in your comments, and also can paste them in directly as a pdf!
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OR, To Submit Hard Copy Comments NO LATER THAN DEC. 10, mail to
: Samantha Deshommes, Chief, Regulatory Coordination Division, Office of Policy and Strategy, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security, 20 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20529-2140. You MUST include your first and last name and the DOCKET #: DHS Docket No. USCIS-2010-0012.
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2)
PLEASE EMAIL TO sstanley@dhm.disciples.org--whether you submit online or via mail-- to let us know you have submitted a comment--& send us a copy--as we are tracking faith comments!
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3) If you are able, also Call Congress
to let them know you oppose these changes and want Congress to stop them.
Go to:
https://greateras1.org/publiccharge/
to receive a phone call to connect with your Senators and Representative. You could say: “As your constituent, I am opposed to the administration’s proposed rule change that would broaden the definition of ‘public charge’ to keep families separated and immigrants out. I ask you to oppose these changes and to do everything in your power to prevent the administration from implementing them.”
And,
Find and Use Sample Media Posts
here: http://bit.ly/2EicReg
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for additional resources. Follow on Twitter @StanleyRea, and on FB.
Also, go here for more info:
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