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.
Trump-backed Republican keeps crucial congressional seat in GOP hands with special election victory
NYC alleged dine-and-dash influencer Pei Chung evicted from luxury apartment as she sits in jail
Illegal immigrant gang member killed police K-9 ‘Spike’ before officers returned fire in California: source
Young progressive beats out establishment candidate in Jersey City mayoral race, echoing Mamdani
GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik Says She Caught Mike Johnson Telling ‘Lies’ and Secretly ‘Siding with Jamie Raskin’
Breaking: Trump Officially Invalidates All Documents Signed by Biden Autopen, Including Pardons – Fauci, Hunter Biden Now Vulnerable
Watch: The Fieriest Trump Comments in History Just Came Out During Cabinet Meeting – POTUS Utterly Scorched Omar and Somalis, Calling Them ‘Garbage’ from ‘Stinking Country’
Trump doubles down on voiding Biden autopen actions, including pardons and commutations
Video: Can You Spot What German Cities Added to Their Christmas Markets After Muslim Migrants Flooded the Country?
Top expert exposes how elites are encouraging immigrants to not assimilate into American culture
Witkoff and Kushner leave Kremlin after nearly five hours of negotiation with Putin
Trump hails $6 billion generosity of Dell family, teases more investors for ‘trust fund’ for American children
Portland drops ‘Christmas’ from tree lighting ceremony featuring ‘Free Palestine’ chant
BREAKING: Afghan Shooter Pleads Not Guilty to All Charges in National Guard Murder Case
Chip Roy Floats Congressional Action on College Football After Lane Kiffin Fiasco: ‘Isn’t Supposed to Be an NFL Lite’
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.
Trump-backed Republican keeps crucial congressional seat in GOP hands with special election victory
NYC alleged dine-and-dash influencer Pei Chung evicted from luxury apartment as she sits in jail
Illegal immigrant gang member killed police K-9 ‘Spike’ before officers returned fire in California: source
Young progressive beats out establishment candidate in Jersey City mayoral race, echoing Mamdani
GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik Says She Caught Mike Johnson Telling ‘Lies’ and Secretly ‘Siding with Jamie Raskin’
Breaking: Trump Officially Invalidates All Documents Signed by Biden Autopen, Including Pardons – Fauci, Hunter Biden Now Vulnerable
Watch: The Fieriest Trump Comments in History Just Came Out During Cabinet Meeting – POTUS Utterly Scorched Omar and Somalis, Calling Them ‘Garbage’ from ‘Stinking Country’
Trump doubles down on voiding Biden autopen actions, including pardons and commutations
Video: Can You Spot What German Cities Added to Their Christmas Markets After Muslim Migrants Flooded the Country?
Top expert exposes how elites are encouraging immigrants to not assimilate into American culture
Witkoff and Kushner leave Kremlin after nearly five hours of negotiation with Putin
Trump hails $6 billion generosity of Dell family, teases more investors for ‘trust fund’ for American children
Portland drops ‘Christmas’ from tree lighting ceremony featuring ‘Free Palestine’ chant
BREAKING: Afghan Shooter Pleads Not Guilty to All Charges in National Guard Murder Case
Chip Roy Floats Congressional Action on College Football After Lane Kiffin Fiasco: ‘Isn’t Supposed to Be an NFL Lite’
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.
