Public Benefits
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Trump Administration Public-Charge Rule Would Amplify Harms to Immigrant Families
A Trump administration proposed rule that would give government adjudicators wide discretion in deciding when public benefits use can be held against green-card applicants and prospective immigrants could discourage many eligible households, including those with U.S.-citizen children, from accessing health, nutrition, and education supports—with significant implications for well-being, as this short read explains.
Can the Trump Administration’s “Self-Deportation” Campaign Succeed?
The Trump administration's “self-deportation” campaign pairs incentives for immigrants to leave with threats of steep fines and arrests for staying. Historical precedents suggest limited voluntary uptake.
The Health Costs to Children of Stepped-Up U.S. Immigration Enforcement
Evidence suggests heightened U.S. immigration enforcement will have major and lasting effects on the physical and mental health of unauthorized immigrants and their children.
Immigrants and the Use of Public Benefits in the United States
Most noncitizens in the United States face significant restrictions on access to federally funded public benefits—particularly unauthorized immigrants.
Immigrants’ Eligibility for U.S. Public Benefits: A Primer
The U.S. 1996 welfare law created a complex patchwork of eligibility for federal supports. This 2024 primer maps which categories of immigrants qualify for 13 U.S. public benefit programs and how some states extend coverage.
Imminent End of Formal U.S. Pandemic Emergencies Marks New Era in Immigration Realm
The end of U.S. pandemic emergency declarations will shrink public benefits and reduce health-care access for U.S. residents, with immigrants bearing a disproportionate share of the fallout.
The Public-Charge Final Rule Is Far from the Last Word
The Biden administration public-charge final rule undoes deep restrictions imposed during the Trump era, codifying much of the policy in place from 1999 to 2019. Yet confusion and fear over triggering negative immigration consequences will continue to keep many immigrants and their U.S.-born relatives from accessing benefits and services for which they are eligible absent a robust educational campaign, this commentary explains.
The Missing Link: Connecting Eligible Asylees and Asylum Seekers with Benefits and Services
Asylees are eligible for many U.S. refugee-equivalent benefits but lack systems to connect them. Weak outreach and fragmented data leave many underserved.
Immigrant Children’s Medicaid and CHIP Access and Participation: A Data Profile
In 2019, 40 percent of income-eligible immigrant children were barred from Medicaid and CHIP, and even eligible children enrolled at much lower rates.
