NEWS & PRESS

Court Order On Health Care For People With Daca Dangerous, Limited, Temporary

EL PASO, TEXAS — The Western Division of the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota issued an order Monday, suspending implementation of the Biden Administration regulation making people with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) eligible for health coverage under the Affordable Care Act. The “stay” order was issued in response to a filing by the Kansas Attorney General and the Republican attorneys general of 18 other states and it applies only in those states.

Advocates Ready to Oppose Trump Attacks on Immigrant Families

EL PASO, TEXAS — The outcome of this year’s presidential election means the next Congress will debate policies affecting the health and wellbeing of millions in immigrant families, from health care access to hunger and homelessness. Reacting to the election results, the Protecting Immigrant Families coalition issued the following statement by its director, Adriana Cadena:

Estados con más migrantes pierden más cobertura médica

Our Esther Reyes appeared on Radio Bilingüe to discuss PIF’s analysis of the disparate impact of Medicaid “unwinding” on immigrant communities.

New Research: Medicaid “Unwinding” Losses Hit Counties With Larger Immigrant Communities Harder

EL PASO, Texas — A new analysis released today by the Protecting Immigrant Families coalition (PIF) finds that state Medicaid eligibility policies and practices resulted in 1.37 million people in counties with larger immigrant shares of county population losing Medicaid, compared to counties with the smallest immigrant share of county population. The analysis, completed for PIF by the non-profit behavioral science research firm ideas42, focuses on declines in Medicaid enrollment as states worked to “unwind” Medicaid’s pandemic-era continuous coverage requirement.

Texas Public Charge Lawsuit Dismissed

AUSTIN, TEXAS — The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas issued an order Monday, dismissing a suit challenging the Biden Administration’s 2022 “public charge” regulation, which made it clear that people seeking a green card would not be penalized if their eligible family members access food, housing or health care. The Honorable Drew Tipton ruled that the plaintiff, the State of Texas, “failed to submit evidence” in support of its standing claim and that its argument was “speculative at best.”

Election Stunt Puts Nation At Risk, Advocates Warn

EL PASO — Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives are reportedly pushing a Friday vote on legislation (HR 5717) to deny federal funding to American communities that have made it their policy to welcome immigrant families. The bill was introduced a year ago, but the Republican House majority waited until just before Election Day to act on it. The clumsily-drafted proposal would deny “any Federal funds” to affected communities. Federal funds help local communities address a wide range of routine and emergent needs, from filling potholes and providing inhalers to children with asthma to air traffic control and disaster response and recovery.

New Biden Regulation Improves Health Outcomes and Equity, Advocates Say

PIF statement reacting to the issuance of a final regulation expanding health care access for people with DACA.

A Staggering Disaster For 20 Million in America

PIF Director Adriana Cadena joined host Matt Robison and Leo Cuello of the Georgetown Center on Children & Families on the Beyond Politics podcast. The episode focused on the threat of Medicaid unwinding to health care access for millions in immigrant families, and on the actions policymakers must take to keep families covered.

OPPOSE IMMIGRATION BILL, ADVOCATES URGE

WASHINGTON — Congressional negotiators have released the language of legislation that conditions funding for President Biden’s emergency supplemental budget request on radical restrictions to U.S. immigration law and due process. Reacting to this news, the Protecting Immigrant Families coalition (PIF) issued the following statement from its director, Adriana Cadena:

House Hearing a Sham, Advocates Say

WASHINGTON — The Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Judiciary Committee has scheduled a hearing for today billed as an inquiry into the impact of immigration. In fact, that hearing is stacked with anti-immigrant extremists whose testimony parrots Republican campaign ads. 

States Expand Health Coverage for Immigrants as GOP Hits Biden Over Border Crossings

Article on state policy gains quotes PIF Director Adriana Cadena. Looks at expansions in California, Colorado, New York, Utah, and other states.

BIDEN REGULATION FAILED TO LOWER SAFETY NET ACCESS BARRIERS FACING IMMIGRANT FAMILIES, ADVOCATES SAY

WASHINGTON — The Biden Administration’s “public charge” regulation took effect on December 23, 2022. Advocates celebrated the regulation as a major win for immigrant families, citing its potential to thaw the “chilling effect” that has deterred millions in immigrant families from seeking health care and social services. That effect was generated by Trump Administration regulations that put green card applications at risk if immigrants who qualify for Medicaid, “SNAP” food aid, and “Section 8” housing assistance used those programs.

Shutdown Puts Immigrant Families at Additional Risk, Advocates Warn

Statement urges federal policymakers to accurately communicate with immigrant families about the impact of a government shutdown.

ADVOCATES URGE NO VOTE ON PUBLIC CHARGE AMENDMENT TO DHS APPROPRIATIONS BILL

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote today on legislation (HR 4367) appropriating funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for federal fiscal year 2024. The House Rules Committee has drafted a special rule for floor debate of the bill, which would make dozens of amendments in order, including an amendment that would prohibit DHS from implementing the public charge regulation finalized in December.

Receiving food stamps won’t kill your green card chances. How ‘public charge’ works.

The Times' deep dive on public charge, with a clear and accurate overview of current policy and an explanation of how the public charge chilling effect continues to threaten immigrant families.

DISTRICT COURT RULING MEANS CONGRESS MUST ACT ON DACA

WASHINGTON — The United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas found the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) unlawful yesterday. Importantly, the Court’s ruling does not impact the nearly 600,000 people who currently have DACA. The United States and other defendants are expected to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, which had remanded the case back to the Southern District of Texas last fall. Reacting to Wednesday’s ruling, the PIF coalition issued the following statement by its director, Adriana Cadena:

Urban Institute Analysis Shows Biden Admin Failed to Lower Barriers Facing Immigrant Families in Hardship

WASHINGTON — The Urban Institute released an analysis Thursday, finding that the Biden Administration has failed to mitigate the “chilling effect” resulting from the Trump Administration’s expanded public charge regulation and its consequences for the health and well-being of immigrant families. The analysis finds that 25% of people in mixed-status families avoided health care and social service programs last year, because of immigration concerns. The analysis specifically cites the public charge chilling effect as a persistent concern. That figure is roughly unchanged from the 27.7% of people in mixed-status families the Urban Institute found were chilled in 2020, when the Trump policy was still in force.

Advocates Applaud HEAL Act Introduction, Urge Quick Passage

Statement commends lawmakers on the bicameral introduction of legislation to lower health care access barriers for immigrant families, improve health outcomes, and promote health equity.

A new study shows how Medicaid coverage policies shape maternal health disparities

STAT News covers a medical journal study finding that anti-immigrant policies result in reduced health care access for new moms who are immigrants. Quotes PIF's Cheasty Anderson.

400+ ORGANIZATIONS BACK DACA HEALTH CARE PLAN

WASHINGTON — A comment submitted Friday brought 424 organizations together in supporting expanded health care access for people with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The comment was coordinated by the Protecting Immigrant Families coalition (PIF) and submitted in response to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposal that would cover nearly 130,000 people who are uninsured today.

400+ Organizations Back DACA Health Care Plan

PIF organized more than 400 organizations in support of a proposal to expand health care access for people with DACA. This release summarizes the joint comment.

HIRONO / JAYAPAL / CÁRDENAS BILL A RACE EQUITY PRIORITY, ADVOCATES SAY

WASHINGTON — Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-Washington) and Tony Cárdenas (D-California) today introduced legislation reversing the “five-year bar,” a 1996 policy that denies eligibility for federal assistance programs to millions in the families of people with “green cards” and other immigrants who are lawfully present in the United States. The Lifting Immigrant Families Through Benefits Access Restoration (LIFT the BAR) Act has 100 original cosponsors in the United States House of Representatives and 11 original cosponsors in the U.S. Senate. Polling by the Protecting Immigrant Families coalition finds that ¾ of Americans favor the policy change proposed by the LIFT the BAR Act. In response to the bill’s introduction, the PIF coalition released the following statement from its director, Adriana Cadena:

MANCHIN, TESTER VOTE WITH TRUMP AND STEPHEN MILLER

WASHINGTON — Two U.S. Senate Democrats voted today to support SJRes 18, a partisan resolution attacking “public charge” regulations. The resolution would reverse the Biden Administration regulations barring the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from considering the use of health care, nutrition, or housing programs by lawfully-present immigrants applying for permanent residence (a “green card”). The Biden regulation replaced a Trump policy putting green card applications at risk if lawfully-present immigrants used such programs. Trump White House adviser Stephen Miller was the architect of the Trump policy, which undermined pandemic response and widened racial disparities in health, hunger, and poverty. A 2021 poll found that nearly half (46%) of people in immigrant families who needed help or health care during the pandemic did not seek it because of immigration concerns.

Safety Net Barriers Add to Child Poverty in Immigrant Families

On how safety net barriers like public charge and the five-year bar perpetuate poverty among kids in the families of lawfully-present immigrants.

¿Qué es un ITIN number y cómo sacarlo?

North Carolina’s Enlace Latino news site spotlights ITIN resources developed by PIF and partners NILC, CLASP, and UnidosUS. Learn more about ITINs and use our resources to help immigrant families in your community. Get the Your ITIN, Your Money resources.

Supreme Court Rejects Bid to Resurrect Trump Immigration Policy

PIF statement reacting to a U.S. Supreme Court decision not to consider litigation seeking to restore the Trump public charge policy.

Advocates: Immigration Policy Unchanged by Texas Lawsuit

PIF statement responding to the filing of a lawsuit challenging the Biden public charge regulation.

NEW BIDEN REGULATION CAN PROMOTE EQUITABLE PANDEMIC RECOVERY

Statement on the effective date of the Biden public charge regulation.

Radio Bilingue’s Linea Abierta

Great public charge segment (begins at 46:55) featuring PIF partner California Primary Care Association on RB’s flagship call-in program, Linea Abierta.

Government services only help kids if families utilize programs

Great American Academy of Pediatrics op-ed urges the Biden Administration and local policymakers to commit to an outreach campaign aimed at informing immigrant families about the new public charge regulation.

More L.A. Latinos falling into homelessness, shaking communities in ‘a moment of crisis’

Deep dive into what’s driving California’s Latino homelessness spike, including public charge.

Association of the Expiration of Child Tax Credit Advance Payments With Food Insufficiency in US Households

PIF partners Children’s HealthWatch find that the lapse in expanded Child Tax Credit payments drove a 25% increase in food insecurity, with immigrant families among those hardest hit.

¿Qué servicios me convierten en carga pública? Experta aclara dudas sobre la nueva regulación del gobierno Biden

Great network story on the Biden final public charge reg features PIF partner MomsRising.

IRS sends letters to over 9 million who could miss out on valuable 2021 tax credits. Here’s how to claim that money.

IRS offers assurances that claiming stimulus payment checks will have no effect on immigration status.

At White House Conference on Hunger is a woman who’s doing the work in her community

Food bank CEO attending the White House Hunger Conference says an effective response must improve food security for immigrant families.

Amid pandemic uncertainties, Latino immigrants put trust in their ‘promotoras’

In-depth looks at how promotoras made the difference on vaccine outreach to immigrant families.

Neal, Pallone Applaud Biden Administration’s Final Public Charge Rule

Chairmen of two key U.S. House of Representatives committees recognize the Biden final public charge regulation as a major win for immigrant families and the nation.

The expanded child tax credit kept 4 million kids out of poverty. Can it come back?

PIF partner UnidosUS on advocacy to expand immigrant families’ eligibility for state earned income credit programs.

Biden’s goal to end hunger by 2030 and his new food conference, explained

Lawmakers urge Biden officials to prioritize outreach to immigrant communities in anti-hunger strategy.

Pace of Harris County home buyouts slower than hoped for after Hurricane Harvey

Public charge deters Texas immigrant families from seeking aid through hurricane buyout program.

Health, economic disparities continue to affect coronavirus hot spots

Local governments working to mitigate health disparities affecting DC-area immigrant families, including thawing the persistent public charge chilling effect.

Some criticize Family Security Act for its citizen requirement

Immigrant advocates critique a family economic aid bill sponsored by Utah Republican Senator Romney that includes mixed-status families but excludes undocumented families.

The Biden Administration’s final public charge regulation may be ready in weeks. What do advocates expect?

PIF director Adriana Cadena talks about the upcoming public charge final regulation on the radio network's live Linea Abierta program.

FL Families Urged to Sign Up for KidCare as CHIP Marks Silver Anniversary

Article on CHIP’s 25th anniversary quotes PIF partner Florida Health Justice Project offering assurances to immigrant families that CHIP enrollment will have no immigration consequences.

Charities Aiding Immigrants and Refugees Fare Better When They Raise Money From Private Sources

Immigrants account for about 15% of the US population, and government makes decisions every day affecting their health and wellbeing, but less than one half of 1% of charitable giving supports advocacy work on behalf of immigrants.

An Immigrant Child Story

Great op-ed by a pediatrician argues for passage of the LIFT the BAR Act.

Tienes derecho a recibir asistencia del gobierno por la pandemia sin importar tu estatus migratorio: esto debes saber

PIF partner MomsRising / Mamas Con Poder featured in this article assuring immigrant families that they can use safety net programs without immigration consequences.

Undocumented children deserve health care in N.J. and the sooner the better

Joint commentary by the National Center for Children in Poverty and PIF partner CLASP urges NJ’s legislature to expand safety net access for children in immigrant families.

California should back a program to prevent homelessness, not just react to it

Columnist Jean Guerrero urges actions to mitigate homelessness, including addressing barriers to available supports, including public charge.

With ‘Healthy Babies Equity Act,’ Maryland Will Join Other States that Provide Prenatal Care Regardless of Immigration Status

Maryland legislation expands of prenatal care to women in immigrant families.

Hirono Bill Critical to Equitable Pandemic Recovery, Advocates Say

PIF statement of support in response to Sen. Mazie Hirono's introduction of the Senate version of the LIFT the BAR Act.

Report finds child hunger is 55% higher than pre-pandemic levels in NYC

Food security nonprofit finds that hunger is 55% higher than before the pandemic, with immigrant families among those at greatest risk.

Overturning Roe Would Create More Barriers for Asylum-Seekers and Immigrants

Former Refugee Council USA executive director argues that a SCOTUS reversal of Roe v. Wade would hit immigrant women even harder than most, by reinforcing immigrant families’ concerns about the effect of getting health care and economic aid on future immigration applications.

Perceptions of the Coronavirus and COVID-19 testing and vaccination in Latinx and Indigenous Mexican immigrant communities in the Eastern Coachella Valley

UC Riverside public health and health equity experts find the public charge chilling effect continues to depress COVID-19 testing and vaccination in Latinx families.

WA takes step toward expanding health insurance coverage for all residents, regardless of immigration status

State ACA implementation agency asks feds for a waiver allowing Washington to offer health coverage regardless of immigration status.

Food insecurity rises as families lose child tax credit payments, data shows

On new research by our partners at Children’s Health Watch, finding that the expanded Child Tax Credit improves health and food security, but that immigrant and Latinx families aren’t getting it.

Qué es la carga pública: resuelve tus dudas sobre los programas y ayudas que no afectan tus opciones migratorias

Overview of current public charge policy, offering assurances and facts to families needing care or help.