More Rollbacks of Trump-era Rules Needed

Washington, DC, February 24, 2022—A new rule proposed today by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will provide immigrants and their families with additional reassurance that it is safe for them to access food, health, and nutritional supports. In a “notice of proposed rulemaking” posted today in the Federal Register, DHS is seeking to write into regulations policies that replace Trump-era changes to the “public charge” rule that caused significant harm to immigrants and their families. The Biden Administration stopped applying the Trump-era rules in March 2021 but had not yet replaced them with new regulations.

“The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) is pleased to see this important change to the public charge rule that severely undermined the health and wellbeing of immigrant communities. The proposed change is a crucial step forward in ensuring that immigrants can feel safe accessing public programs such as Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and housing assistance that allow their families to thrive,” said Olivia Golden, CLASP’s executive director. “Families should know that they do not face a risk now in using these critical programs, but this step toward new regulations will help make sure that the new, better rules are permanently in force.”

“We urge the Biden Administration to roll back other harmful immigration policies from the Trump years that continue to endanger children and families,” said Golden.

Today marks a 60-day period ending on April 25 during which DHS will accept comments about the proposed rule change.

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