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.
Alexei Navalny’s widow demands ‘accountability’ for Putin after European leaders say husband was poisoned
ICE ramps up deportation push by boosting capacity to 92,600 beds with $38.3B expansion
A $10 Walmart gun holster could help identify suspect in Nancy Guthrie case
Casey Wasserman to sell his talent agency after becoming ‘distraction’ due to Epstein files
Fetterman slams Democrats’ ‘Jim Crow 2.0’ voter ID rhetoric as party unity fractures
ICE officers face criminal probe for alleged ‘untruthful statements’ under oath about Minneapolis shooting
Trump trounces Biden energy records in just months as admin celebrates 1 year of ‘historic gains’: data
Heroic 12-Year-Old Tried to Save Classmates from Trans Mass Shooter: She’s in Critical Condition
Collins boosts Republican voter ID effort, but won’t scrap filibuster
Zelensky offers to ‘give a ceasefire to the Russians if they do elections’ in Munich plea
CNN’s Data Guru Reveals How the Far-Left Is Devouring Democratic Party
Microsoft AI Chief Says Artificial Intelligence Will Do Most White-Collar Work by Next Year
Cities Church Defendant Who Likes Terrorizing Christian Children Launches Bizarre Message Outside Courtroom
Convicted Squatter’s Lawyer Freezes, Asks to ‘Cut’ When Pressed to Defend Client
Fact Check: Did a MAGA Dad Murder His Liberal Daughter After an Argument About Trump? Sick Leftists Will Be Disappointed with the Facts
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.
Alexei Navalny’s widow demands ‘accountability’ for Putin after European leaders say husband was poisoned
ICE ramps up deportation push by boosting capacity to 92,600 beds with $38.3B expansion
A $10 Walmart gun holster could help identify suspect in Nancy Guthrie case
Casey Wasserman to sell his talent agency after becoming ‘distraction’ due to Epstein files
Fetterman slams Democrats’ ‘Jim Crow 2.0’ voter ID rhetoric as party unity fractures
ICE officers face criminal probe for alleged ‘untruthful statements’ under oath about Minneapolis shooting
Trump trounces Biden energy records in just months as admin celebrates 1 year of ‘historic gains’: data
Heroic 12-Year-Old Tried to Save Classmates from Trans Mass Shooter: She’s in Critical Condition
Collins boosts Republican voter ID effort, but won’t scrap filibuster
Zelensky offers to ‘give a ceasefire to the Russians if they do elections’ in Munich plea
CNN’s Data Guru Reveals How the Far-Left Is Devouring Democratic Party
Microsoft AI Chief Says Artificial Intelligence Will Do Most White-Collar Work by Next Year
Cities Church Defendant Who Likes Terrorizing Christian Children Launches Bizarre Message Outside Courtroom
Convicted Squatter’s Lawyer Freezes, Asks to ‘Cut’ When Pressed to Defend Client
Fact Check: Did a MAGA Dad Murder His Liberal Daughter After an Argument About Trump? Sick Leftists Will Be Disappointed with the Facts
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.
