SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, and 126 other lawmakers in Washington are urging the Department of Homeland Security to withdraw its proposed “public charge” rule, warning it would harm U.S. citizen children, immigrant communities, and public health systems nationwide.
“Public charge” is grounds for inadmissibility to the United States, Padilla says.
Under this statute, an immigration officer determines whether an immigrant is likely to become primarily dependent on government assistance, and thus, deny entry or legal residence in the U.S.
According to a statement released by Padilla’s office, the Trump administration wants to rescind public charge regulations instituted in 2022 under President Biden and replace them with “vague, undefined standards, leading to arbitrary decision-making, fear, and widespread confusion.”
“Past public charge expansions have driven families, including those with U.S. citizen children, away from lawful access to health care, nutrition, and early childhood programs,” the statement reads.
Padilla and the other lawmakers argue that the proposal contradicts congressional intent, undermines the rule of law, and risks triggering a massive chilling effect that would worsen child health outcomes, increase food insecurity, and shift costs to states and local governments.
In a letter sent to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, they are asking that proposal be withdrawn in full and that DHS maintain the 2022 regulations, which provide “clarity, fairness, and consistency for families and adjudicators alike.”
