WASHINGTON — Pediatricians and advocates for immigrant families warned Thursday that a new U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulation taking effect September 18 is a threat to children’s health. The Trump administration “public charge” regulation puts green card applications at risk if lawfully present immigrants use health or social service programs they are eligible for, or if their children – including U.S. citizen children – use such programs.
“This regulation is a direct assault on immigrant families, and a threat to the health of millions of U.S. citizen children,” said Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition Policy and Advocacy Director Maddie Geschu.
The Trump administration policy rescinds regulations adopted in 2022 that limited the type of benefits considered in a public charge test to cash assistance for income maintenance or long-term institutionalization at government expense. By removing those guardrails, it opens the process to political influence and personal bias.
A similar public charge rule during the first Trump administration led to a broad chilling effect. A 2021 survey found that about half (46%) of people in immigrant families who needed care or help during the pandemic did not apply because of immigration-related concerns.
“Pediatricians across the country are witnessing first-hand the damaging effects of aggressive immigration enforcement tactics and harmful policy changes on child health. If children are not enrolled or disenroll from key health and safety net programs, their health and the health of our communities will pay the toll,” said American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Immigrant Child and Family Health Chair Sural Shah, MD, MPH, FAAP.
With immigrant families accounting for 28% of the nation’s population, the final public charge rule threatens the health and wellbeing of millions of families and undermines the nation’s health and economic stability. The harm from this rule will extend well beyond immigrants, impacting U.S. citizen children as well.
Geschu and Shah spoke to reporters Thursday by teleconference. A copy of the recording is available to journalists on request.
