The Trump administration recently proposed a rule that would deny admission into the United States for anyone the government thinks might receive public benefits, at any time. Legally known as “public charge,” this rule would have a disproportionate impact on:
- Low-income immigrants.
- Young adults.
- The elderly.
- Individuals with disabilities.
- Non-English speakers.
The American Immigration Council, with the American Immigration Lawyers Association, filed comments because a financial litmus test should never serve as a measure for who we welcome into our country. Afterall, wealth is no predictor of the real values we look for in our neighbors. If we have learned anything from our immigration history, U.S. immigration law should not bar admission for newcomers based on their perceived potential–economic or otherwise–because their future contributions cannot be measured by the amount of money in their pocket when they arrive at our door.
