The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed a change to public charge, which threatens the health, safety, and livelihood of immigrants and refugees and in so doing, the very core of our nation.
Rawaa Nancy Albilal, President and CEO of the Arab-American Family Support Center, responds:
“This rule is devastating for our country as a whole and has the potential to impoverish and alienate thousands upon thousands of families – families who need food, shelter, and supportive services as human beings who have been marginalized and under-resourced. The rule will prevent new immigrants who may be facing trauma or may be attempting to reunite with family members from entering the United States. It will also leave children and the elderly currently living in the United States without health insurance, without access to food, and without other necessary social supports.
At the Arab-American Family Support, we are strengthening families by providing multi-generational support and we know first hand how important and beneficial these services are to promoting socio-economic success. In light of the ongoing threats to public charge and resulting fear of deportation, we have already seen our community members give up needed social services, jeopardizing the safety of themselves and their children. We cannot stand idly by as these discriminatory rules are enacted. We will continue to advocate for immigrants and refugees and collaborate to end xenophobia, racism, sexism, ethnocentrism, othering, and all forms of oppression.”
Join us in spreading the word, standing by immigrants, and saying no to these changes. The public will have an opportunity to comment on this rule for 60 days once it has been posted to the Federal Register.