WASHINGTON — Advocates for affordable housing and immigrant families briefed reporters Monday on the housing consequences of a new U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations that took effect September 18. The Trump administration “public charge” regulation puts “green card” applications at risk if lawfully present immigrants use housing or other health or social service programs, or if their 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 related Trump public charge regulation implemented in February 2020 was ruled illegal by a federal court and struck down in March 2021. While that regulation’s technical application was limited to a small number of lawfully present immigrants applying for green cards, the deterrent “chilling effect” was much broader. 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 concerns.
“By deterring immigrant families from applying for resources for which they are eligible, the Trump administration is preventing children, seniors, and working families from accessing critical housing programs,” said David Gonzalez Rice, senior vice president of public policy at the National Low Income Housing Coalition. “Americans don’t want immigration policy or housing policy to look like this. Immigrant families, like every family, deserve decent, safe, affordable housing.”
With immigrant families accounting for 28% of the nation’s population, the final public charge regulation threatens the health and wellbeing of millions and undermines the nation’s health and economic stability. And as half the people in immigrant families are U.S. citizens, the harm resulting from this regulation extends well beyond immigrants.
Geschu and Gonzalez Rice, along with Kate Walz, Senior Policy Advisor for Housing Action Illinois, spoke to reporters Monday by teleconference. A copy of the recording is available to journalists on request.
