December 9, 2018

The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) this week submitted a comment against the Department of Homeland Security’s proposed changes to the public charge rule. The proposed changes would, in effect, hinder legal immigration for working – and working-class people. The Trump administration’s proposed rule change would deny green-cards and visas to people based on the government’s predictions that they are likely to receive Medicaid coverage or other means-tested public benefits in their futures.

Leaders from the organization released the following statements:

Zahra Billoo, executive director of the San Francisco Bay Area office of CAIR, said:

“The Trump administration’s changes to the public charge rule are just another example of its agenda to strip people of dignity on the basis of race and economic status alone. The Trump administration has continuously tried and failed to enact legislation that would curb legal immigration — despite the fact that the majority of Americans favor more pathways to legal immigration, not fewer. Trump is ignoring the will of the people yet again, circumventing congressional procedure by changing the public charge rule in order to limit legal immigration, signaling that only those with wealth are welcome in the United States.”

Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Greater Los Angeles Area office of CAIR, said:

“This policy places an undue burden on working-class immigrants who form the backbone of our economy. By putting the wealthy at the front of the line, Trump is advocating for a complete abandonment of the premise that the United States is a place for those seeking a better life.

“If finalized as written, this rule would exclude people with disabilities and working class people, and would have a disproportionately negative impact on women and people of color by preventing them from securing lawful immigration status and reuniting with their families.”

Basim Elkarra, executive director of the Sacramento Valley office of CAIR, said:

“America is built by immigrants who arrived with little money and education and then thrived once afforded the opportunity to pursue the American Dream. Most Americans agree: Those who choose to come here for a better life should always be welcomed.”

CAIR-CA continues to encourage California Muslims to sign on to CAIR National’s public comment by clicking here or submitting their own comment as part of the Protecting Immigrant Families effort to submit over 100,000 comments by clicking here. The deadline to submit all comments is Monday, December 10.

To read CAIR-CA’s full comment on the public charge issue submitted this week, please click here.