FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 12, 2019
Contact: Jennifer Wang
(202) 812-9325 / jwang@napawf.org

Washington, D.C. — Today, news broke that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will release the final version of its controversial “public charge” rule, which will take effect October 15. Under this rule, immigrants will be considered “public charge” and denied lawful permanent resident (LPR) or green card status if they use any of a broad range of public benefits like Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and housing assistance.

The National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum Executive Director Sung Yeon Choimorrow issued the following statement in response:

“The Trump Administration has willfully ignored our voices and again put the lives of immigrants and their families at risk. No one should be forced to choose between their immigration status, their health, or ability to put food on the table.

“Point blank, this rule is xenophobic. Denying immigrants legal status based on their health, their education level, or whether they fall on hard times and need support to make ends meet only further prevents immigrant families from reuniting across oceans.

“By any means necessary, this Administration is hellbent on advancing their blatantly racist agenda against immigrant families by intentionally denying them basic living needs.

“This rule is a direct attack on Asian American and Pacific Islanders’ rights and autonomy over our lives. That’s why last year, NAPAWF members mobilized against this racist policy. We will not stop fighting for our community and our families’ ability to thrive in this country reunited as families with dignity and without fear or violence.

“We cannot become a country where only the wealthy and the healthy are permitted to enter and thrive.”

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The National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) is the only multi-issue, progressive, community organizing and policy advocacy organization for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women and girls in the U.S. NAPAWF’s mission is to build collective power so that all AAPI women and girls can have full agency over our lives, our families, and our communities. You can learn more at NAPAWF.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter @NAPAWF.