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.
LeBron’s Friend and Head Coach Eviscerates His Team After Christmas Meltdown: ‘Don’t Care Enough to Be a Professional’
Leftist Celebrity Scientist Neil deGrasse Tyson Gets Roasted After He Tries to Debunk Timeless Tale of Rudolph on Christmas Eve
Is Gavin Newsom’s social media strategy starting to get stale?
‘Perception vs. reality’: Trump’s economy picks up speed — but voters aren’t buying it yet
Trump and former Fulton County codefendants plan to hold Fani Willis to ‘maximum legal accountability’
Nude burglar arrested on Christmas night after allegedly breaking into two luxury Florida homes
Former Florida law enforcement officer accused of forcing 6-year-old underwater in hotel pool: report
California family revives beloved Christmas tradition with surprise sleepover visit
$220 Million Green Bay Packers Star Sparks Controversy After Christmas Gifting Revelation
Trump to Meet Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago ‘to Work Out Issues as Much as Possible’
MAHA Hits Roadblock After Obama Judge Sides with Conglomeration of Food Dye Corporations
Christmas Tragedy: Grandfather Dies After Gruesome ‘Freak Accident’ at McDonald’s
Trump reveals potential Kennedy Center marble armrests ‘unlike anything ever done or seen before’
Cowardly Scum: Man Kills Himself After Shooting His Family Over NFL Dispute
Tiny Pacific nation to take up to 75 deportees as Trump administration accelerates mass removals
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.
LeBron’s Friend and Head Coach Eviscerates His Team After Christmas Meltdown: ‘Don’t Care Enough to Be a Professional’
Leftist Celebrity Scientist Neil deGrasse Tyson Gets Roasted After He Tries to Debunk Timeless Tale of Rudolph on Christmas Eve
Is Gavin Newsom’s social media strategy starting to get stale?
‘Perception vs. reality’: Trump’s economy picks up speed — but voters aren’t buying it yet
Trump and former Fulton County codefendants plan to hold Fani Willis to ‘maximum legal accountability’
Nude burglar arrested on Christmas night after allegedly breaking into two luxury Florida homes
Former Florida law enforcement officer accused of forcing 6-year-old underwater in hotel pool: report
California family revives beloved Christmas tradition with surprise sleepover visit
$220 Million Green Bay Packers Star Sparks Controversy After Christmas Gifting Revelation
Trump to Meet Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago ‘to Work Out Issues as Much as Possible’
MAHA Hits Roadblock After Obama Judge Sides with Conglomeration of Food Dye Corporations
Christmas Tragedy: Grandfather Dies After Gruesome ‘Freak Accident’ at McDonald’s
Trump reveals potential Kennedy Center marble armrests ‘unlike anything ever done or seen before’
Cowardly Scum: Man Kills Himself After Shooting His Family Over NFL Dispute
Tiny Pacific nation to take up to 75 deportees as Trump administration accelerates mass removals
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.
