Donald Trump Photo: WhiteHouse.Gov
Aug. 13, 2019 By Shane O’Brien
Several elected officials have condemned the Trump Administration’s new “Public Charge Rule” which will reject green card applications for legal immigrants who rely on public assistance.
Congresswoman Grace Meng, Council Member Daniel Dromm and New York State Attorney General Letitia James have all publicly criticized the ruling, which makes it harder for legal immigrants who use public benefits such as food stamps and Medicaid to become permanent legal residents.
Acting head of US Citizenship and Immigration Services Ken Cuccinelli announced the new rule on Monday, with it set to go into effect on October 15, 2019, although anticipated litigation over the rule may change this timeline.
Local leaders argue that the rule is a calculated attack by President Donald Trump to get rid of immigrants from poor backgrounds.
“President Trump’s public charge rule is another ruthless and callous attack on immigrant communities,” Meng said. “It will have dire consequences for hundreds of thousands of legal immigrants, mostly children and families who require critical safety net programs for health care, food and other basic and daily necessities.”
New York Attorney General Letitia James offered further scrutiny to the Public Charge Rule and said that it was egregious measure that will see the U.S turn its back on immigrants fighting to make a better life for themselves. She also said that she intends to file suit against the Trump Administration over the ruling.
Meanwhile, Daniel Dromm, who represents one of the most immigrant rich districts in New York, said that he will fight the policy.
“The United States has a long history of welcoming the poor,” Dromm, who represents Jackson Heights, said. “Inscribed on our very own Statue of Liberty are the indelible words ‘Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.’ Our nation stands to lose a lot by this rule. We must never turn our backs on the economically distressed.”
However, when Cuccinelli was asked about those revered words on the Statue of Liberty on Monday he put forward a new version of the lines from Emma Lazarus’ famous sonnet.
“Give me your tired and your poor who can stand on their own two feet and who will not become a public charge,” Cuccinelli said at the press conference.
Cuccinelli also said that the new rule would allow the government to reduce the number of immigrants likely to become a drain on taxpayers.
The Public Charge Rule will not apply to current green card holders or asylum seekers.
Trump stated earlier this year that he has long favored a merit-based immigration system which prioritizes young and highly educated immigrants who he says contribute more to society.
- Immigrants who are concerned about how the public charge rule might affect them or their loved ones can call ActionNYC at 311 or 1-800-354-0365 and say ‘public charge’ to access City-funded, trusted legal advice.
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25 Comments
America is very good
I’m surprised Little Jimmy Van Bramer wasn’t there. The man never misses an opportunity for publicity. He can smell a publicity event a mile away. I guess he’s too busy deciding on his endorsement for mayor. After endorsing Cynthia Nixon for governor and Caban for District Attorney, I’m curious to see who he’ll endorse for mayor. Al Sharpton? He does know how to pick them.
We don’t need immigrants that become a burden to the taxpayer, period. We need immigrants that come to work hard and contribute to the economy of this country. In the old days, there was no welfare, food stamps, etc and people came to work hard and build their own “American Dream” without asking for handouts, it should be the same nowadays.
“In the old days, there was no welfare” is completely false.
If you eliminate SNAP, you increase crime: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supplemental_Nutrition_Assistance_Program#Crime
But I guess the tired “muh handouts” argument is still getting dragged out.
I’m sure the “old days” are in reference to the years well before the Great Depression when immigrants came, work hard, built this country and their “American Dream”. They did not become a public burden because there was no welfare, no food stamps, no public handouts. They just worked hard and prospered. These are the immigrants that we need, not the ones that become a burden to the taxpayer.
The president bragged about not paying any taxes. That upsets you too right? If not, I’m not sure why a common person should be held to a higher standard than the president.
So are you saying the if they take away your food stamps you will go out and commit crimes??? How about getting a job?
By the way, food stamp recipients are not exempt from committing crimes:
https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/news/2019/08/14/camden-grocery-snap-supplement-nutrition-assistance-program-fraud-fbi-estevez-garcia-melo-rodriguez/2005794001/
Welfare was implemented to help people temporarily in order to help themselves. Not become a substitute for working. Yet there are families who are on welfare for generations. No one works or even finishes high school. 15 year old girls have children, and the father is no where to be seen. 30 year old grandparents. And to some people that is considered normal. Welfare started with good intentions, but it has created a dependent sub-class.
Trump says he doesn’t pay any taxes at all, and that makes him smart, what’s wrong with immigrants doing it? Or was Trump wrong?
I didn’t pay any taxes, that “makes me smart” remember?
If the PRESIDENT doesn’t pay taxes, I don’t understand how you could be upset by citizens not doing it.
Unless…Trump was wrong for not paying any taxes?
Even after begging Mexico and democrats for money, he completely failed.
He’s soft on crime. Now his solution is taking away food stamps? Sad!
What’s sad is the people who work hard and
pull their own weight and
have to pay for these so called food stamps
Yeah, like the legal immigrants who pay in excess of $250 billion in taxes every year….and the ones who are here illegally who pay an additional $13 billion and aren’t even eligible for the programs. They’re the ones working hard to pay for food stamps. http://immigrationimpact.com/2018/04/16/undocumented-immigrants-pay-taxes/#.XVQ6qOhKh3g
Hey Annab
63% of illegals are
In the welfare
system and the other % make sure
they have kids here
that entitle them to
it. So educate yourself on all the facts not just the ones you like.
Huh, that’s a “fact?” Where’d you get it Fox News? If you read the article, this law is about LEGAL immigrants, who are LESS likely to use public benefits. And who, pay $250 billion a year for the benefits they DO use. Maybe try educating yourself on the facts? https://www.cato.org/publications/economic-development-bulletin/poor-immigrants-use-public-benefits-lower-rate-poor
HUH!
Education you talk
education you can’t even follow the subject. I was quoting ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. You
got the message. My
education and fiures come from reports that cross my desk daily at a Div. Of NYS. But you keep your Rachel Maddow classes going and maybe you can keep up with the rest of us.
You have a nice day now
S
I
What are you talking about? Trump’s motion (discussed in this article) is about LEGAL green card applicants. I’m not sure about your education…or sure you should be working at NYS, though that would explain some things about this city…As for ILLEGAL immigrants (which this article is NOT about if you can read), they pay $13B a year in taxes. So they’re paying for benefits too… Nice try.
Just like repealing Obamacare “on day one” and investigating Hillary, The Great Wall was a complete lie.
Now you’re blaming the immigrants because Trump completely failed to secure our borders?
Jackson Hts Geriatric I see you’re comparing Trump to other sad things.
The dislikes come from white skinny socialists
Yikes, how tired. Now make a rant about Millennials lol
You’re just as upset about that right? I mean otherwise you’d have no integrity.
We are seeing your
integrity synonymous to jealousy
In other words.
Get an education the
wall is being built and guess where he got the money.
> wall is being built and guess where he got the money
From a “one time payment” from Mexico? Oops, that was a lie.
From the trade deal with Mexico? Oops that was a lie.
From the longest government shutdown in history? Oops that was a lie.
From Democrats? Oops that was a lie.
So I guess it will be a giant pork-barrel project paid for by taxpayers.
You know…”small government” lmao.
There were MORE deportations under Obama.
Why is Trump so soft on border security?
Morris
The only thing your paying for is
your welfare recipients
Instead of laughing your ass off get an education
in government policy. Read learn
and see where your taxes are going. Oh too busy laughing your ass off I forgot. Remember
he who laughs last laughs the best. Oh I foroot no education .
Have a nice day now