Trump Admin urged to withdraw its proposed public charge policy

TIL Desk/World/Washington/ Two top American organisations in the field of higher education have urged the Trump Administration to immediately withdraw its proposed public charge policy with regard to issuing green cards or legal permanent residence status to foreign nationals.

Under the proposed rule, if a foreign national is a beneficiary of a “public charge” — which is a wide range of non-cash public benefits including use of food stamps, non-emergency Medicaid and public housing assistance — it would be difficult for him to get a green card.

The Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, along with the Community College Consortium for Immigrant Education, in a submission said the Department of Homeland Security “should immediately withdraw” its current proposal. Instead, it should rely on the 1999 policy guidance regarding public charge.

The two organisations urged the Trump Administration to dedicate its efforts to building on the successes of immigrant students and their families and to advancing policies that strengthen, rather than undermine, the ability of immigrants to access post-secondary pathways and support themselves and their families in the future.

“If we want our communities to thrive, everyone in those communities must be able to stay together and get the care, services and support they need to remain healthy and productive,” said the submission.