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AAPCHO Condemns Latest Regulation Threatening Immigrant Families

August 12, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Trump Administration Finalizes DHS Public Charge Rule Detrimental to Immigrant Health.

WASHINGTON – The Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) today released the following statement denouncing the Trump administration’s finalization of the Department of Homeland Security’s regulation expanding the definition of public charge.

“Today’s action by the Trump administration to expand the criteria used by the Department of Homeland Security in determining who may become a ‘public charge’ is the latest assault on American values and millions of lawfully present immigrants who have made our country home. This regulation denies permanent resident and visa status to individuals residing legally in the United States for using Medicaid, SNAP, public housing, and other health and nutrition programs.

“Expanding ‘public charge’ is harmful to all immigrants and their U.S. citizen family members who are already fearful because of vitriolic public discourse and the administration’s deterioration of protections and rights in numerous federal policies.

“As we have seen over the last year and a half that this rule was being considered, families regardless of immigration or citizenship status are frightened by this rule; many are foregoing needed medical care or disenrolling from these programs out of fear that they will lose their legal status or be separated from their families.

“Our country is better when we celebrate our diversity and the millions of immigrants who contribute every day to the vibrancy of our communities. AAPCHO and our member health centers condemn this rule and the negative consequences it will have on Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and all immigrants. In partnership with civil rights leaders and communities across the country, we will continue fighting to overturn it in Congress and through the courts.”

About AAPCHO

AAPCHO is a national association of community health organizations dedicated to promoting advocacy, collaboration and leadership that improves the health status and access of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. For more information on AAPCHO, please visit www.aapcho.org.

Contact

Kristine Cecile Alarcon, MPH, (510) 671-5054, kalarcon@aapcho.org

Media Relations

Beverly Quintana
(510) 272-9536 x112
bquintana@aapcho.org

Kristine Cecile Alarcon
(510) 671-5054
kalarcon@aapcho.org

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