[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 26 (Friday, February 7, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E150]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    NO PUBLIC CHARGE DEPORTATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GRACE MENG

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, February 7, 2020

  Ms. MENG. Madam Speaker, for over 100 years, public charge has been 
part of U.S. immigration law as a ground of deportation. It is time we 
change that part of law, especially with how the current administration 
is weaponizing this rule to hurt families and limit them from accessing 
critical safety net programs.
  Since the Trump administration published the new public charge rule 
in 2018, there are reports that this has led to chilling impacts on 
immigrant families participating in safety net programs for fear of 
jeopardizing their immigration status. One in seven adults in immigrant 
families reported that they or a family member did not participate in a 
noncash benefit program in 2018, out of fear of risking future green 
card status. Even permanent residents who would not be affected by this 
proposed rule have reported forgoing safety net programs.
  Madam Speaker, even more frightening is that this rule instills fear 
in families with children. In fact, the rule could lead up to 4.7 
million people to withdraw from Medicaid and the Children's Health 
Insurance Program alone. This fear has resulted in parents trying to 
opt out of free school lunch for their children--New York State schools 
have free lunch for all students--out of concern that they may be 
deemed a public charge and even possibly lose status and be deported.
  That is why, I am introducing the ``No Public Charge Deportation 
Act'', which would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to remove 
public charge as a ground of deportation.
  The Trump administration is weaponizing the public charge rule to 
discriminate against low-income immigrants and immigrants of color. We 
need to assure families that they will not be deported if they legally 
use critical benefits such as Medicaid, SNAP, and housing assistance.
  Madam Speaker, families should not have to decide between putting 
food on the table and risk getting deported. I urge my colleagues to 
support this legislation to make sure families will not forgo programs 
that help provide basic necessities because of a public charge rule.

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