Little Lobbyists Statement on SCOTUS “Public Charge” Ruling
Little Lobbyists strongly condemns today’s Supreme Court decision to allow the Trump Administration to move forward with their cruel and explicitly discriminatory “Public Charge” immigration policy.
Right now 5.9 million U.S. citizen children have at least one undocumented family member. The Supreme Court ruled that immigration officials could take into consideration the likelihood of an immigrant becoming what is known as a “public charge” when determining their eligibility for legal status. A “public charge” refers to someone requiring assistance, including Medicaid, food stamps, or other public assistance programs. These families are now forced to make the impossible decision of whether to seek health care or nutritional assistance for their children and risk being separated and deported or let their family go without basic needs.
Even before today’s ruling, some families, including those with children who are U.S. citizens, were refusing to seek care or assistance or even removing themselves from public assistance programs fearing that they would be deported or not be able to gain legal status. Many were afraid they would be turned down simply because they have a child or family member with a disability, or they needed help to put food on the table. Mothers with young children were withdrawing from the WIC program just last fall in fear of such a rule change. This ruling targets families of people with disabilities, children and adults with complex medical needs, and families who are seeking a better life in a new country.
No child should go without access to health care or food. We advocate for all children, and we reject the scarcity mentality attempts to pit marginalized people against each other.
While we are deeply saddened and angered by this decision, we are not defeated. We will continue to fight alongside our partners, allies, neighbors, and families to fight against this discriminatory, punitive and xenophobic policy.
Podium with Little Lobbyists logo in front of the Capitol Building on a sunny day in Washington D.C.