The Conversation: Trump administration changes to ‘public charge’ rule could keep millions of immigrants – and their US citizen kids – from getting healthcare they need

The Trump administration recently issued a new public charge rule.

Medha D. Makhlouf and Nicole Kreisberg for The Conversation (Trump administration changes to ‘public charge’ rule could keep millions of immigrants – and their US citizen kids – from getting healthcare they need) analyze the potentially devastating impacts of the new rule:

"We will be watching green card denial rates to see whether this policy change makes it harder to become a permanent resident. It will come as no surprise if the changes deter immigrants and their close relatives, including children who are U.S. citizens, from using benefits for which they’re eligible.

This policy change is likely to affect many immigrants who are already uncertain about the trade-offs between getting help from government benefits and maximizing their chances of staying in the United States.

But the people affected by this policy change will include everyone in a family that includes an immigrant, regardless of their legal status.

For this reason, we recommend that immigrants with pending green card applications should consult with an attorney who is knowledgeable about public charge before making decisions about enrolling in or disenrolling from government benefits. This will give them the information they need to make the best choice for their family’s health and future."