Immigrants have begun dropping out of a federal aid program out of fear that relying on government support could hurt their chances of obtaining a green card following the Trump administration’s reported plan to make those dependent ineligible for permanent residency, according to a report published Monday.
Health providers who oversee WIC — a federal nutrition program for pregnant women and babies — in 18 states have noticed a decline of up to 20 percent in the number of people filing for help, Politico reported.
The Trump administration is planning to amend the public charge rule that has allowed the government not to grant admission to the U.S. or permanent residency for legal immigrants who rely on government assistance. The provision is expected to be expanded to include all family members and could affect illegal immigrants if a pathway to citizenship was offered to them in the future.
Enrollment in the WIC program, begun in 1974, dropped from 7.4 million when Trump took office in January 2017 to 6.8 million in May, shortly after the administration’s plans to change the public charge rule were leaked. However, the decline is also connected to improvement in the economy and a decrease in birth rates.
Some immigration attorneys have even advised clients to get off WIC and other public benefits in order to ensure any future attempt to secure a green card is not hurt by their reliance on government money, caseworkers told Politico.
In response, the Department of Agriculture has launched several studies to examine why families are not enrolling at previous rates and why others are leaving the program, which is formally known as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
A legal challenge from immigration lawyers is expected after the Trump administration proposes the provision, likely become the November elections.
