Opinion: The Racist ‘Public Charge’ Rule Punishes Poor Immigrants and Will Hurt Kids in L.A.

[dropcap size=big]T[/dropcap]he xenophobic uglies in the Supreme Court voted in Trump’s racist public charge rule 5 - 4. This rule gives DHS the authority to deny immigrants legal entry or permanent status if they are deemed “likely to rely on public assistance.'' 

In other words, using Medicaid, food stamps, and housing assistance could get someone denied a green card. Putting it even simpler: This new rule will block out poor immigrants in favor of wealthier immigrants. 

In honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day which just took place yesterday, it is important to be aware and remember that this is not the first time a public charge rule was used to keep vulnerable people out. In the 1920s and 1930s, the US kept out Jewish people fleeing Nazi Germany with a similar public charge rule.

It is also important to address the “chilling effect,” which is when noncitizens drop out of programs they and their families are entitled to because of fear and misinformation. It’s estimated that between 2 million to 4.7 million children and adults will drop out of Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program because of this rule, according to this study. Many noncitizens don’t qualify for public benefits in the first place, so most folks that do have access to them wouldn’t be at risk for being deemed a public charge in the first place. 

People are also expected to drop out of the food stamp program. Meaning children of noncitizens are at risk of not getting the nutrition and healthcare they need. This will affect a generation of children and will snowball into bigger results due to the rule further in their lives with academic performance, economic opportunities, and general well-being.

With 34 percent of Los Angeles being foreign-born and half of California having at least one immigrant parent, this state is likely to be hit hard by the impacts of public charge. 

What’s even more repugnant about this rule is the false narrative that the White House perpetuating that has been debunked time and time again: That immigrants don’t contribute to this country and cost taxpayers, when actually it’s the opposite. In 2014 alone, immigrants paid $328 billion in state, local, and federal taxes. A quarter of all tax dollars in California alone comes from noncitizens alone. 

Jeff Bezos, could never. Oh, that’s right, he doesn’t. Amazon paid $0 in taxes last year. 

Zilch.

Idk, I think all of the inevitable UTI’s he’s caused by making his workers pee in bottles costs the public, but I digress. 

It’s important that everyone doesn’t drop out of programs they’re entitled to. It’s also important that we get new supreme court justices that aren’t racists or rapists, like Brett Kavanaugh. However, we can really only do that if we get a President that is neither a rapist or a racist, unlike Cheetolini.  

Public Charge may affect people with: pending green card applications through a family-based petition and permanent residents who leave the U.S. for more than six months.

If you or someone you know thinks they might be affected by this rule, they can check here for resources.