In response to Trump administration’s “Public Charge” threat, Illinois Legislators passed $2.5 million to connect immigrants and vulnerable populations to healthcare services. Stakeholders gather to educate community about the impact of the new rules that could deny an individual’s eligibility for green cards or admission to the United States if they utilized critical health programs and services to meet basic living requirements like food and shelter. This week, President Trump announced a new draft “Public Charge” rule change that would deny green cards to legal, tax paying immigrants who utilized critical health programs and services to meet basic living requirements like food and shelter.

As stated in the proposed draft rule, a person may be denied admission to the US, lawful permanent resident (LPR) status or a visa extension on “public charge” grounds if they use certain health, nutrition, and housing programs. Once finalized the publication of proposed changes to public charge will open a 60-day comment period in which advocates and the public can respond. In response to Trump administration’s “Public Charge” threat, Illinois legislators passed $2.5 million in funding to start healthcare navigator program to provide free information, referral, assistance, advocacy, enrollment and case management services to low-income and uninsured or underinsured Illinoisans at no cost to them.

Healthcare Navigators will educate immigrants as to whether they are subject to public charge test and provide targeted resources and referrals – abating families choosing between the denial of status and food or health care. State Senator Tony Munoz (D-IL), State Representative Carol Ammons (D-IL), State Representative Lisa Hernandez, State Representative Theresa Mah, Esther Corpuz CEO of Alivio Medical Center, Candace King Executive Director of DuPage Federation on Human Services were among the few who attended the press conference Wednesday morning at Alivio Medical Center to share the announcement.