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Leaked Trump Order Targets Legal Immigrants Who Use Government Benefits
After signing several executive orders aimed at deporting undocumented immigrants, President Donald Trump may target legal immigrants next.
A leaked executive order would drastically expand the number of public programs that are off-limits to legal immigrants who aren't citizens, such as green-card holders. If found using them, they could face deportation and their sponsors -- usually a family member or employer -- would have to reimburse the federal government for unauthorized use of those benefits.
Immigrants can currently be deported for using cash welfare or long-term institutionalized care. Under the draft order, they could be deported for using any federal benefit given "on the basis of income, resources or financial need." That could include food stamps, Medicaid, free or reduced school lunch, home heating assistance and college financial aid.
"This is really a major change for social welfare institutions and the social welfare system," said Michael Fix, president of the Migration Policy Institute.
State and local agencies manage many of those programs and could be responsible for reporting immigrants' use of them. That would create new administrative burdens for counties, said Jack Peterson, assistant legislative director for the National Association of Counties (NACo). Peterson's group is also worried about the order having a negative impact on public health.
"Some of our members have expressed concerns that ... [this] could have the [effect] of driving folks that need care into the shadows," he said. If parents stop taking their children to get immunizations, for example, it "not only has impacts for them and their lives but for broader community at-large."
A leaked executive order would drastically expand the number of public programs that are off-limits to legal immigrants who aren't citizens, such as green-card holders. If found using them, they could face deportation and their sponsors -- usually a family member or employer -- would have to reimburse the federal government for unauthorized use of those benefits.
Immigrants can currently be deported for using cash welfare or long-term institutionalized care. Under the draft order, they could be deported for using any federal benefit given "on the basis of income, resources or financial need." That could include food stamps, Medicaid, free or reduced school lunch, home heating assistance and college financial aid.
"This is really a major change for social welfare institutions and the social welfare system," said Michael Fix, president of the Migration Policy Institute.
State and local agencies manage many of those programs and could be responsible for reporting immigrants' use of them. That would create new administrative burdens for counties, said Jack Peterson, assistant legislative director for the National Association of Counties (NACo). Peterson's group is also worried about the order having a negative impact on public health.
"Some of our members have expressed concerns that ... [this] could have the [effect] of driving folks that need care into the shadows," he said. If parents stop taking their children to get immunizations, for example, it "not only has impacts for them and their lives but for broader community at-large."
http://www.governing.com/topics/health-human-services/gov-trump-order-immigrants-public-benefits.html
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