June 4, 1999
The Clinton Administration announced its long awaited clarification on federal rules governing Public Charge. The new regulations clarify rules regarding the federal and state programs immigrant families can access without fear of being found to be a public charge or any other immigration consequences. The much-anticipated clarification begins to reverse a situation that had developed into a climate of fear and a major barrier for immigrants needing to access publicly supported programs ranging from free lunch programs for children to critically needed prenatal care for eligible low-income pregnant women.
The new regulations do not expand eligibility of immigrants for any programs but instead clarify existing policies that thus will serve to encourage enrollment of already eligible immigrant children not currently enrolled in programs including California's Healthy Families and the state's MediCal Program. In clarifying the public charge issue, the new regulations will improve the health of families by removing widespread confusion that has prevented hundreds of thousands of legal immigrant parents from enrolling their eligible children into needed health care and other essential programs.
The Latino Coalition for a Healthy California and other community health and immigrant advocates throughout the state joined in commending the Clinton Administration for issuing the critically needed clarifying policy on public charge. The new policy will be effective immediately and become final following a 60-day public comment period.
The administration's Public Charge announcement addresses a major concern in immigrant communities which as been undermining access to public health programs, nutrition and other critical services for legal immigrants and their family members who are clearly eligible for these services.
Yesterday's announcement removes the uncertainty that had been created by the government's lack of a clear standard on Public Charge, and clears the way for immigrant parents to enroll their children into the Healthy Families and MediCal programs without fear of immigration consequences.
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