FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 17, 2022
CONTACT
Email: [email protected]
Madison Allman, 202-384-1279
NILC Statement on the Public Charge Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
WASHINGTON — Eddie Carmona, campaigns director for the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement on the Biden administration’s proposed new rule on public charge:
“The Biden administration’s proposed rule on public charge is an important step toward addressing significant racial and economic disparities in immigrant communities that the COVID-19 pandemic only worsened. Though the proposed rule aligns with longstanding principles that govern public charge and provides helpful clarifications, the proposal falls short in failing to clearly exclude all state and local programs from public charge determinations. We will continue to analyze these proposed changes and urge the Biden administration to implement the most inclusive final rule possible.
“Ultimately, the Biden administration is accountable for building an equitable immigration system and undoing the harms of the Trump years – including combatting the chilling effects of President Trump’s cruel ‘wealth test.’ It is crucial that the Biden administration continue to rebuild trust with immigrant communities and ensure that immigrants who call the U.S. home know it’s safe to seek the health and economic supports that they need to thrive.”
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Major Benefit Programs Available to Immigrants in California (Table)
Updated Jul 21, 2026 This table lists the programs for which certain immigrants residing in California are eligible. Originally published in May 2017.
NILC Responds to Trump’s Cruel ‘Public Charge’ Rule Change
Published Jul 16, 2026 Sarah Krieger, senior policy counsel at the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement in response to the Trump administration's finalized “public charge”...
The Legacy of Slavery Continues in Modern Immigration Law
Published Jun 18, 2026 To truly honor Juneteenth, we must acknowledge how the American history of anti-Black bias continues in today's approach to immigration laws and policies.
Hundreds of Thousands of Immigrants are Losing Health Care and Food Aid, Thanks to Congress
Ben D’Avanzo and Yarely Martinez-Lopez
Published Jul 15, 2026 A year after H.R. 1 passed, hundreds of thousands of immigrants are likely to lose essential food and health care aid, following the bill’s new restrictions on their eligibility for SNAP, Medicaid, subsidized care on the Affordable Care Act...