{"id":2428,"date":"2018-09-19T15:39:27","date_gmt":"2018-09-19T15:39:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/affordablehousingonline.com\/blog\/?p=2428"},"modified":"2018-10-04T19:45:05","modified_gmt":"2018-10-04T19:45:05","slug":"trump-proposal-punishes-legal-immigrants-receiving-housing-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/affordablehousingonline.com\/blog\/trump-proposal-punishes-legal-immigrants-receiving-housing-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump Proposal Punishes Legal Immigrants Receiving Housing Benefits"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Trump Administration is drafting a proposed rule that will penalize legal immigrants for using housing assistance and other safety net programs. The proposal would expand the list of supportive programs that can be considered when determining if an immigrant is a \u201cpublic charge,\u201d meaning that they are dependent on the government to meet their basic needs. Millions of immigrants seeking entry to the U.S. or lawful permanent resident status could have their applications rejected, or in rare cases, be deported.<\/p>\n

The draft Department of Homeland Security proposal was first obtained by The Washington Post, and can be read <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not respond to Affordable Housing Online\u2019s request for comment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Immigration officials currently use a number of factors when deciding whether an applicant is a public charge or likely to become one. They look at age, health, family status, assets, resources, financial status, education, skills and sponsorship. Generally, only immigrants who receive more than 50% of their income from public cash assistance (TANF), or are institutionalized for long-term care at government expense are currently classified as public charges.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Trump Administration believes that immigrants can be public charges if they receive any kind of government assistance, even if that assistance is less than 50% of their income.<\/span><\/p>\n

Under the proposed rule, the definition of public charge would be changed to, \u201ca person who uses or receives one or more public benefits as defined in this rule.\u201d It then defines a public benefit as, \u201cany government assistance in the form of cash, checks or other forms of money transfers, or instruments and non-cash government assistance in the form of aid, services or other relief, that is means-tested or intended to help the individual meet basic living requirements such as housing, food, utilities or medical care.\u201d<\/p>\n

Receiving public benefits will be a \u201cheavily weighted\u201d negative factor when making a public charge determination. Benefits that would give applicants a negative score include, but are not limited to:<\/span><\/p>\n