Thread by @doug_rand

🚨New gold-standard report from @MigrationPolicy shows:

The #PublicCharge rule is being marketed as a policy to penalize #immigrants who used government benefits—but practically nobody subject to this rule is eligible for benefits in the first place.

1/
migrationpolicy.org/news/public-ch…

There is almost no overlap between people applying for green cards and people eligible for public benefits.

That's because Congress has already closed off public benefits for undocumented #immigrants & temporary visa holders who don't have green cards already.

2/

@MigrationPolicy finds that max 167,000 people (probably much fewer) are actually eligible for public benefits & subject to the #PublicCharge rule.

That's <0.76% of the 22.1 million noncitizens in the US.

3/

Or <0.64% of the 26 million noncitizens & their family members who aren't wealthy & are most likely to be "chilled" (i.e. terrified) by the #PublicCharge rule, per @manatt

Or <0.19% of all 90 million #immigrants & their US citizen children

4/

manatt.com/Insights/Artic…

So why does the #PublicCharge rule even matter, if its prohibition against prior benefits use is mostly an illusion?

First, the Fear Factor: Millions of people have already gone without benefits they are legally entitled to, because they're scared.

5/
urban.org/urban-wire/pub…

"Millions have already pulled out of safety net programs they’re legally entitled to, based on fear of the #PublicCharge rule — even though it doesn’t apply to them & never will. That’s not a ‘chilling effect’ — that’s a fraud upon the American people.”
6/
nytimes.com/2020/02/24/us/…

Second, the #PublicCharge rule is actually an #immigration restriction regime based on wealth, age, health, English proficiency, debt, & more.

This makes it a family separation policy, potentially splitting ~200k Americans from their spouses...

7/
boundless.com/blog/looming-i…

…& changing the face of #immigration without Congressional approval.

@MigrationPolicy found the #PublicCharge rule could block:

71% of green card applicants from Mexico & Central America
69% from Africa
52% from Asia
36% from Europe, Canada & Oceania
8/
migrationpolicy.org/news/through-b…

More resources on the #PublicCharge rule (both DHS & State Dept) versions are available here:
9/9
boundless.com/public-charge-…