A new rule proposed by the Trump administration would make it more difficult for legal immigrants to get a green card if they apply for food stamps or Medicaid, reports Vox.
The proposal, long expected, were released quietly over the weekend and received minimal news coverage.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice immediately moved to denounce the idea.
“This is a wide-reaching and incredibly depraved attack from the Trump Administration on our families. This proposed rule could discourage families from accessing the basic assistance they need in order to survive in our communities. More than 1.5 million Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) immigrants are in families that use public benefits to feed and sustain their families,” AAJC said in a statement.
According to the civil rights law group, immigrants are already prevented from accessing most federal programs during their first five years of living in the United States.
“The proposed regulation greatly expands the federal government’s ability to reject applications for lawful permanent residency, attacking our family-based immigration system through backdoor methods,” the group said.
The Center for American Progress joined in the condemnation.
“It jeopardizes children in the school cafeteria lunch line, people in need of lifesaving medical care, and immigrant parents working two jobs just to put food on the table,” CAP said. “This move goes around Congress to tear families apart and reverse immigration policies and practices that have lasted for nearly a century—through Republican and Democratic administrations alike.”
The Department of Homeland Security defends the proposal, saying it will save tax dollars.
AsAmNews has Asian America in its heart. We’re an all-volunteer effort of dedicated staff and interns. Check out our Twitter feed and Facebook page for more content. Please consider interning, joining our staff or submitting a story.
The proposal, long expected, were released quietly over the weekend and received minimal news coverage.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice immediately moved to denounce the idea.
“This is a wide-reaching and incredibly depraved attack from the Trump Administration on our families. This proposed rule could discourage families from accessing the basic assistance they need in order to survive in our communities. More than 1.5 million Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) immigrants are in families that use public benefits to feed and sustain their families,” AAJC said in a statement.
According to the civil rights law group, immigrants are already prevented from accessing most federal programs during their first five years of living in the United States.
“The proposed regulation greatly expands the federal government’s ability to reject applications for lawful permanent residency, attacking our family-based immigration system through backdoor methods,” the group said.
The Center for American Progress joined in the condemnation.
“It jeopardizes children in the school cafeteria lunch line, people in need of lifesaving medical care, and immigrant parents working two jobs just to put food on the table,” CAP said. “This move goes around Congress to tear families apart and reverse immigration policies and practices that have lasted for nearly a century—through Republican and Democratic administrations alike.”
The Department of Homeland Security defends the proposal, saying it will save tax dollars.
AsAmNews has Asian America in its heart. We’re an all-volunteer effort of dedicated staff and interns. Check out our Twitter feed and Facebook page for more content. Please consider interning, joining our staff or submitting a story.
