Press Release

NJPP: Public Charge Rule is a Discriminatory Income Test

By a 5-4 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court will allow the Trump administration's "public charge" rule change to take effect.

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Published on Jan 27, 2020 in Economic Justice

Earlier today the U.S. Supreme Court voted 5-4 to allow the Trump administration’s “public charge” rule change to take effect. The new rule makes it more difficult for immigrant families to obtain legal permanent residence if they have used, or are deemed likely to use, public health benefits. In response to the Supreme Court’s decision, NJPP releases the following statement:

Erika Nava, Policy Analyst, New Jersey Policy Perspective:

“The Supreme Court decision is a devastating blow to working-class immigrant families in search of the American Dream. The new rule imposes a discriminatory income test to the immigration system and will force many immigrants to choose between having their basic needs met and being separated from their family. Penalizing families who qualify for public assistance runs counter to this nation’s values and must be stopped. In the meantime, immigrant families should not be fearful, but educated on the new public charge rule so they can make the best decisions for themselves and their families as they navigate the immigration process.”

For more info on the “public charge” rule change, read NJPP’s Public Charge FAQ from December 2019: https://www.njpp.org/blog/faqs-the-public-charge-rule-change#What-Would-Change

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Author

  • Erika J. Nava, former Policy Analyst, worked on immigration issues and how they relate to fiscal and economic policy. She also engaged in immigration advocacy and outreach. During her time at NJPP, Erika participated in successful campaigns that included the passage of the NJ DREAM Act.

    Erika research interest include: immigration policy, education policy, racial justice issues, criminal justice policy and border/Latino politics.

    Before joining NJPP in September 2013, she previously served as the project manager for the Hispanic Directors Association of New Jersey (HDANJ), where she administered the Capacity Building Program that included 27 nonprofit organizations and served as a liaison between HDANJ’s member organizations and the state of New Jersey. Erika also worked as a research assistant for Rutgers University, where she conducted demographic analyses of New Jersey’s population and researched the Perth Amboy riots.

    Erika is a national McNair Scholar. She holds a MPP with a concentration in Immigration and Education Policy from Rutgers University’s Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, and holds a BA degree in Political Science and Latino Studies from Douglass College at Rutgers University.

    Email: nava (at) njpp.org | Phone: 609-393-1145 ext. 17


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