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A New York Times report says the Trump White House is unable to represent nearly 1,500 immigrant children. Nick Cardona de Veuer has this story.
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A group of immigrants from Honduras and Guatemala, in search of asylum, arrives at the bus station after being treated and released by US Customs and Border Protection in McAllen, Texas.(Photo: Eric Gay, AP Images)
The Trump administration has proposed tough new rules to deny green cards to millions of potential immigrants if they are likely to use food vouchers, l 'immig Tr,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,. social assistance, housing coupons or Medicaid to enter the United States or try to become permanent residents.
Officials from the Department of Homeland Security, who announced the proposal Saturday night, say it would save federal taxpayers $ 2.7 billion a year by deterring immigrants from claiming benefits for which they would otherwise be qualified. According to federal officials, this would affect about 380,000 people a year and aims to ensure that immigrants can support themselves.
"Under a long-standing federal law, those seeking to immigrate to the United States must show that they can provide for their financial needs," said DHS Secretary, Kirstjen Nielsen. "This proposed settlement will implement a law passed by Congress to promote immigrant self-sufficiency and protect limited resources by ensuring that they are not likely to become a burden on US taxpayers." . "
In some cases, federal officials have stated that persons who are already legal permanent residents and who have already received benefits may be subject to the new rule if they leave the country and try to return. But most existing green card holders would not be affected.
The proposed rules, which include 447 pages in the Federal Register, are expected to come into effect after a 60-day public comment and comment period.
The administration's proposal enshrined in President Donald Trump's promise to pursue stricter immigration policies, from the construction of the wall on the southern border with Mexico until the end of the year. reduction in the number of refugees admitted to the country.
It is also unveiled at the height of the mid-term elections, where polls show Democrats could take control of the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and close in very competitive Senate races. Stricter immigration policies are seen as a burning issue for the Conservatives to go to the polls, while Democrats see it as a thunderbolt.
Uncompromising Conservatives have long argued against the admission of immigrants who can not support themselves. But advocates of immigrants call it a cruel attack on some of the world's most vulnerable people who are looking for a chance at a better life in the United States – and who might need some help to get started.
"This is long overdue," said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, whose group supports the reduction of immigration. told the New York Times. "This country has fictitiously defined public office in order to facilitate a high level of low-skilled immigration. But it's just a 21st century definition of what the public office is. "
For decades, immigration officials have examined the financial situation of claimants by deciding whether or not to allow them to enter, but the new rules are much more stringent than the previous policy.
"This proposed rule is another ruthless attempt by the Trump administration to denigrate the immigrant community," said Cristobal J. Alex, president of the Latin American Victory Fund. "As an immigrant nation, we are better than that."
Immigrant advocacy groups have stated that people can avoid or withdraw from public aid programs, at the risk of losing their homes and deteriorating because they are denied visas.
Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center, said the proposal was "an inhumane attack on the health and well-being of so many families and communities across the country."
"How you contribute to your community – not what you look like or the content of your portfolio – should be what matters most," she said. "This proposed rule does the opposite and makes it clear that the Trump administration continues to prioritize money over the family unit by ensuring that only the wealthiest can get along. to build a future in this country. "
Potentially disqualifying benefits include Medicare Part D prescription medications, Medicaid with some exceptions for emergency services and education-related disability services, vouchers and vouchers. food and housing coupons section 8.
Critics also argue that focusing on the immediate economic costs of immigration is a short-term vision and ignores the long-term contribution they make to society.
According to a historical study on the economic spinoffs of immigration conducted by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine last year, first-generation immigrants cost 57.4 billions of dollars a year to US taxpayers. But the researchers found that second-generation immigrants generated $ 30.5 billion in economic gain and third-generation immigrants generated $ 223.8 billion.
The positive contribution of immigrants was highlighted this year in a letter signed by 1,470 economists delivered to Trump leaders and Republicans in Congress. The group recognized that in the short term, immigrants can be detrimental to some US companies and to US workers with low levels of education.
"But the benefits that immigration brings to society far outweigh their costs, and a smart immigration policy could better maximize the benefits of immigration while cutting costs," economists concluded. .
The representative Luis Guitierrez, D-Ill., Said: "From the first day of the Trump campaign, the message is that immigrants are a danger and a flight. Today, he sells the lie that immigrants weaken the US economy when exactly the opposite is true. "
In Washington, the global immigration reform has stagnated in Congress and the Trump administration has instead used its administrative and regulatory powers to limit the number of people entering the United States.
Next year, the government will also significantly limit the number of refugees allowed to resettle in the United States, allowing more than 30,000 people fleeing war, violence and persecution worldwide to resettle in the United States. . That's the ceiling for 45,000 refugees set for this year, which was already the lowest since Congress passed the refugee law in 1980. And state department data indicate that The administration will not even reach the 45,000. At two weeks of fiscal year 2018, the administration admitted 20,918 refugees.
More: United States sets the lowest ceiling on admissions of refugees fleeing war, violence and persecution
Contributor: Alan Gomez, The Associated Press.
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