Proposed “Public Charge” rule will increase hunger and poverty in New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE—Economic justice and immigrant rights organizations will hold a press conference Wednesday at 11 a.m. to discuss how the Trump administration’s reckless new attack on immigrant families—a greatly expanded “Public Charge” rule—will impact New Mexico and how people can oppose it. If the proposed rule were to go into effect, it would allow the government to deny green cards and visa renewals to lawfully present immigrants who participate in programs that help with basic needs like medical care, food, and housing.

Trump’s new rule dramatically expands the list of programs that jeopardize immigration status to include nearly all available basic need programs like Medicaid, housing assistance, and SNAP, formerly known as food stamps. The Public Charge rule currently only considers receipt of cash benefits and institutional care as a reason to deny lawfully-present immigrants visa renewals or to deny their applications for legal residency.

WHAT:
Press conference on proposed Public Charge rule that would allow the government to deny green cards and visa renewals to lawfully-present immigrants who participate in programs that help with basic needs like medical care, food, and housing.

WHEN:
11 a.m., Wednesday, October 24, 2018

WHERE:
EL CENTRO de Igualdad y Derechos, 714 4th St SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

WHO:
Centro Savila
EL CENTRO de Igualdad y Derechos
New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty
New Mexico Immigration Law Center

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Centro Savila improves the mental health of our community by ensuring access to linguistically and culturally relevant, quality mental health and prevention services, education and healthcare professional development.

EL CENTRO de Igualdad y Derechos is a grassroots, immigrants’ rights and workers’ justice organization based in Central New Mexico that works with Latino immigrant communities and allies to defend, strengthen, and advance the rights of our community.

The New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty is dedicated to advancing economic and social justice through education, advocacy, and litigation. We work with low-income New Mexicans to improve living conditions, increase opportunities, and protect the rights of people living in poverty.

New Mexico Immigration Law Center advances justice and equity by empowering low-income immigrant communities through collaborative legal services, advocacy, and education.