Cruel Attack on California’s Immigrant Communities: Attorney General Bonta Slams Trump Administration’s New Public Charge Rule

OAKLAND - California Attorney General Rob Bonta today slammed the Trump Administration's decision to eliminate regulations governing who is considered likely to become a "public charge," dramatically expanding the ability of immigration officials to use participation in public benefits programs as grounds to deny lawful permanent residency. Historically, the public charge ground of inadmissibility was a narrow provision that excluded only those immigrants who were expected to become primarily dependent on federal programs for their subsistence - not those who lawfully access public benefits to weather a short-term period of instability. Attorney General Bonta previously co-led a multistate coalition in opposing the rule in comments to the U.S. Department of Homeland security.

"The Trump Administration has given immigration officials practically unlimited discretion to deny permanent residency to any individual who participates in a public benefit program - for any reason and for any period of time," said Attorney General Bonta. "This would punish immigrants for participation that is both lawful and Congressionally-authorized - including for their U.S.-citizen children's participation in programs that are specifically intended to benefit their health and welfare. The weaponization of healthcare, nutrition assistance, and other critical stopgap services is a cruel and unlawful attack on our immigrant families - who contribute so much to our economy and our communities - and California will fight back."