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.
University president sounds alarm as nearly half of students justify violence to stop ‘hate speech’
Florida puts 77-year-old man to death for deputy’s murder as state closes in on execution record
Pennsylvania Welfare Supervisor Accused of Stealing Thousands in Food Stamps, Trading Them for Crack Cocaine
Trump Announces New Fraud Bounty Program, Nick Shirley First to Cash In
U2 Singer Bono Attacks Christians and Jews Who Support Ending Government Waste, Shuttering USAID
Husband of Democratic Party Chair Charged with Stealing $20 Million from Federal Education Grants
Honduran illegal immigrant charged with assaulting ICE officers with hammer during New Jersey traffic stop
Watch: Abdul El-Sayed Has His Hillary Clinton ‘Hot Sauce in Purse’ Moment in Cringey, Pandering Interview
Democrats Plotting to Use Bitter Ex-Girlfriend to Take Down Elon Musk
Judge Trump called a ‘lunatic’ abruptly backs off demand after showdown with DOJ No. 3
Trump says Ilhan Omar could go to jail or be deported, calls her ‘a disgrace to our country’
Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner’s office faces subpoenas after judicial referral
Declassified Docs Show State Dept.’s Testimony During 2019 Trump Impeachment Was Radically Different from Reality
Reporter’s Notebook: A Democratic majority could expose the limits of the progressive agenda
Ilhan Omar’s daughters show up at scene of DC raid as rumors swirl about embattled rep’s whereabouts
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.
University president sounds alarm as nearly half of students justify violence to stop ‘hate speech’
Florida puts 77-year-old man to death for deputy’s murder as state closes in on execution record
Pennsylvania Welfare Supervisor Accused of Stealing Thousands in Food Stamps, Trading Them for Crack Cocaine
Trump Announces New Fraud Bounty Program, Nick Shirley First to Cash In
U2 Singer Bono Attacks Christians and Jews Who Support Ending Government Waste, Shuttering USAID
Husband of Democratic Party Chair Charged with Stealing $20 Million from Federal Education Grants
Honduran illegal immigrant charged with assaulting ICE officers with hammer during New Jersey traffic stop
Watch: Abdul El-Sayed Has His Hillary Clinton ‘Hot Sauce in Purse’ Moment in Cringey, Pandering Interview
Democrats Plotting to Use Bitter Ex-Girlfriend to Take Down Elon Musk
Judge Trump called a ‘lunatic’ abruptly backs off demand after showdown with DOJ No. 3
Trump says Ilhan Omar could go to jail or be deported, calls her ‘a disgrace to our country’
Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner’s office faces subpoenas after judicial referral
Declassified Docs Show State Dept.’s Testimony During 2019 Trump Impeachment Was Radically Different from Reality
Reporter’s Notebook: A Democratic majority could expose the limits of the progressive agenda
Ilhan Omar’s daughters show up at scene of DC raid as rumors swirl about embattled rep’s whereabouts
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.
