Dear Friends,
It’s me again. In the last email, I dropped the phrase “public charge” as if it should be super clear what it is. Except, it isn’t. I still, even over a year later of organizing around it have to translate it in my head.
The use of the word “charge” is with the definition of “responsibility for the care of” aka a babysitter’s charges. And it has a slightly negative connotation; they’re a burdensome responsibility. And then “public” as in the government so a “public charge” is a burden on the government, they’re supporting these people and it’s an irritant.
Our immigration system is all sorts of confusing hoops and obstacles. Even when it is working smoothly. Whether or not immigrants access cash assistance is already part of the application process to become a green card holder. We, as a country, are already prioritizing richer immigrants for citizenship and punishing immigrants who may need support. In September 2018, the Department of Homeland Security decided to propose a rule change and expand the list of programs that would qualify someone as a “public charge” and, therefore, potentially deny far more immigrants lawful permanent residency.
People stopped accessing food stamps or Medicaid, etc. preemptively, just because of the proposal even though the change would not take effect until October 2019. We held a teach-in and hit the sidewalks to collect comments and signatures against the change before the December 10th deadline. New York City has long been home to a lot of different immigrants. Some of my role models, friends, and community members would not be where they are today without access to public benefits when they immigrated to the United States.
Thankfully, on my birthday! and just in the nick of time, the change was blocked by federal judges in three different states, including New York. There are a lot of ways that immigration is hard. And it is getting harder here in the US. But I’m grateful and proud that we were part of the effort to speak out and against the expansion of this rule.
So, one more time, if you support me, our work locally, our work across the US, then please donate for our annual fundraiser here! If you believe healthcare is a human right, reproductive healthcare is basic healthcare, and/or racism, sexism, classism, xenophobia are terrible, then please donate. If you’d like to get involved, reach out! If you’re in the NYC area, consider coming to celebrate at our annual fundraiser/party on Oct 24th at Mood Ring in Bushwick! It’s open to the public and we’re raffling off some rad prizes. If you’re not (or temporarily not, like me), then consider sharing the info with your NYC friends!
