Immigrants who get tested or treated for the coronavirus will not be penalized when applying for citizenship under a public charge rule that restricts green cards for those who use taxpayer-funded services.
In a statement, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said that it is encouraging anyone with symptoms of the COVID-19 to seek medical treatment.
“Such treatment or preventive services will not negatively affect any alien as part of a future Public Charge analysis,” the agency said.
“To address the possibility that some aliens impacted by COVID-19 may be hesitant to seek necessary medical treatment or preventive services, USCIS will neither consider testing, treatment, nor preventative care (including vaccines, if a vaccine becomes available) related to COVID-19 as part of a public charge inadmissibility determination,” the agency continued.
The public charge rule went into effect last week after the Supreme Court in January allowed the Trump administration to enforce it.
Europe’s demographic time bomb is killing its leaders’ popularity
WATCH: GOP senator warns ‘hammer-and-sickle’ politics will define Democrats’ 2028 primary
Appeals Court Blocks Part of ‘Stop WOKE Act’ in Florida, Allows Professors to Openly Teach Racism Against Whites
DNA technology leads to arrest in 1988 killing of Orlando woman after nearly four decades
Trump’s EPA chief pushes back on climate skeptics being labeled ‘science deniers’
Graham Platner Officially Goes Out How You’d Expect: ‘Free Palestine,’ Vulgar Message for ICE, No Accountability or Seriousness
Nicole Brown Simpson told former lover she’d ‘rather die’ than return to O.J. Simpson before her murder
The new ‘Supergirl’ is a cheerless comic book movie
The World Cup comes to America: Passion, resilience, and the politics of hosting
Former top cop warns of loophole exploited by illicit Chinese vape companies ‘targeting our youth’
America’s cheapest city to grab a cheeseburger, fries and soda isn’t where you’d expect
Why do progressives forgive failed government?
Trump warns US would ‘decimate and destroy’ Iran over assassination attempt
California men accused of $100K burglary allegedly took selfies while committing crime
Prosecutors seeking death penalty for deported illegal alien indicted in murder of sister-in-law
The rule essentially restricts immigrants entering the United States if the government believes they will rely on public assistance such as welfare or health care and housing benefits. Lower federal courts had blocked the rule from enforcing before the high court ruling.
Ken Cuccinelli, acting deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, assured lawmakers last week in a closed-door briefing that immigrants seeking coronavirus testing or treatment would not be penalized.
Several Democratic lawmakers praised the USCIS announcement.
Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, called it “an important first step,” according to CQ Roll Call.
“COVID-19 does not differentiate between the wealthy and poor or immigrants and citizens – therefore, we must close any gaps in our health system so that everyone has the same access to care right now,” he said in a statement.
Europe’s demographic time bomb is killing its leaders’ popularity
WATCH: GOP senator warns ‘hammer-and-sickle’ politics will define Democrats’ 2028 primary
Appeals Court Blocks Part of ‘Stop WOKE Act’ in Florida, Allows Professors to Openly Teach Racism Against Whites
DNA technology leads to arrest in 1988 killing of Orlando woman after nearly four decades
Trump’s EPA chief pushes back on climate skeptics being labeled ‘science deniers’
Graham Platner Officially Goes Out How You’d Expect: ‘Free Palestine,’ Vulgar Message for ICE, No Accountability or Seriousness
Nicole Brown Simpson told former lover she’d ‘rather die’ than return to O.J. Simpson before her murder
The new ‘Supergirl’ is a cheerless comic book movie
The World Cup comes to America: Passion, resilience, and the politics of hosting
Former top cop warns of loophole exploited by illicit Chinese vape companies ‘targeting our youth’
America’s cheapest city to grab a cheeseburger, fries and soda isn’t where you’d expect
Why do progressives forgive failed government?
Trump warns US would ‘decimate and destroy’ Iran over assassination attempt
California men accused of $100K burglary allegedly took selfies while committing crime
Prosecutors seeking death penalty for deported illegal alien indicted in murder of sister-in-law
Rep. Norma Torres, D-Calif., an opponent of the public charge rule, also commended the agency.
“I see this as a signal from the USCIS that they recognize that American lives potentially are at risk due to this public charge rule,” Torres said. “We have to encourage people to come forward. I want to make sure that everyone in the household that might have been in contact with somebody that has been infected with coronavirus is able to get tested and get treatment.”
Story cited here.
