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  • “Public Charge” Rule Discriminatory Against People with Disabilities

    Posted by brianna-albers on October 16, 2018 at 11:00 am

    A rule recently proposed by the Department of Homeland Security, known formally as “Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds” and informally as the “Public Charge” rule, has been ruled discriminatory by over 1,500 disability, immigrant, and civil rights organizations in the United States. For a full list, click here. The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) publicly announced its opposition to the rule Monday, October 15th; you can find the announcement here.

    Under the “Public Charge” rule, individuals seeking admission to or residency in the United States could be denied if they have used or applied for government services. These services including housing assistance, food assistance, and Medicaid—resources associated with independence and improved quality of life for people with disabilities.

    According to the AAPD, the “Public Charge” rule discriminates against people with disabilities. If enacted, the rule might prevent disabled people from entering the United States or becoming a permanent resident. Moreover, temporary residents might refrain from utilizing the resources at their disposal for fear of jeopardizing their immigration status. The “Public Charge” rule also endangers people with chronic health conditions who depend on programs like Medicaid in order to survive.

    As of Tuesday, October 16th, the “Public Charge” rule has yet to be finalized; the federal government must allow for public input before the rule can be enacted. The public comment period ends Monday, December 10th, 2018. To find out more about the “Public Charge” rule, check out Protecting Immigrant Families (PIF)’s website here. You can read up on how the proposed regulation will affect immigrants of all kinds, including those with disabilities; you can also submit a public comment, using your own words or the temple provided by PIF. Any information shared with PIF will be forwarded to the federal government at regulations.gov.

    brianna-albers replied 5 years, 6 months ago 1 Member · 0 Replies
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