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This #publiccharge policy is going to hurt millions of the most vulnerable people in the country. That is, of course, the entire point. From the perspective of the work I do as a scholar--and from a personal standpoint--it's a dismal development (1/n). prospect.org/article/trump-…
Public charge is a bit "in the weeds" for people who don't spend a ton of time thinking about what social policy looks like for the most marginalized, so here is a quick summary from the article linked above (2/n): 
This is a devastating direction for social policy for more reasons than I have time to list. Chief among the risks is a "chilling effect." If even the appearance of material need is a basis for denying status, then the safest course of action is to avoid asking for anything (3/n)
In mixed status households this may mean everyone in the home (even documented folks) avoids seeking social services. For children legally born in the U.S. this may mean their parents avoid getting the resources they need and are eligible for (4/n)
From a human perspective, this means there will be people in our communities--neighbors, co-workers, friends--who are tacitly disallowed from even asking for help meeting their basic needs (healthcare, food). It means eschewing even the illusion of a commitment to social rights.
From a personal perspective it means disregarding the promise and possibility of people like my parents--who may not have much when they immigrate here but who contribute much & represent what America pretends to be about: equal opportunity, mobility, a chance at a better life.
