Thread by @doug_rand

After welfare reform in 1996, #immigrant enrollment in public assistance dropped 20–60%—even though most were still eligible! Unfounded fears led even *U.S. citizen* enrollment to drop 14%.

History is repeating itself (via @EmilyRuskin @WeAreUnidosUS):

blog.unidosus.org/2019/08/20/pub…

@EmilyRuskin @WeAreUnidosUS In 1999, the gov't clarified who's eligible & things settled down for the next 20 years.

But the @DHSgov #PublicCharge rule is designed to sow chaos again.

"To resurrect such a damaging policy despite robust evidence of its harm indicates that indeed, the harm is intentional."

@EmilyRuskin @WeAreUnidosUS @DHSgov The #PublicCharge rule isn't even on the books yet, but it's sowing misery.

Parents pulling their autistic children out of school.

Kids foregoing essential surgery.

Victims of domestic abuse afraid to come out of the shadows.

latimes.com/california/sto…

@EmilyRuskin @WeAreUnidosUS @DHSgov Another likely impact of the not-even-operative-yet #PublicCharge rule:

The national uninsured rate is up, especially among Hispanics and foreign-born people, *including those who have become U.S. citizens.*

apnews.com/4f2a8639b84140…

@EmilyRuskin @WeAreUnidosUS @DHSgov Among the most dastardly things about the #PublicCharge rule: Its power to punish people for using safety net programs is mostly an illusion.

The overwhelming majority of people disenrolling from public benefits are simply not subject to the @DHSgov final rule.

It's a con job.

@EmilyRuskin @WeAreUnidosUS @DHSgov And when was the last time the US gov't ramped up the #PublicCharge test?

"During the Nazi era, roughly 300,000 additional Jewish refugees could have gained entry [but they were] deemed incapable of supporting themselves in the U.S."

via @ConversationUS:
theconversation.com/trump-administ…