Despite Supreme Court Ruling, the Shriver Center Will Continue to Fight to Protect Immigrant Families

No family should have to make the choice between meeting their basic needs and being with their loved ones. We are saddened by the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday, February 21, 2020, to temporarily block the Illinois injunction halting the federal government’s public charge rule from being implemented. This ruling came after the Court previously blocked the nationwide injunction halting the public charge rule.

The Court’s decision means that the public charge rule can go into effect nationwide, including in Illinois. This cruel rule will punish people seeking permanent resident status in the United States, and as well as those seeking certain visas, if they use—or are deemed likely to use in the future—public supports to meet their family’s basic health, housing, and nutrition needs.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that the agency will only apply the Final Rule to applications and petitions submitted on or after February 24, 2020. The USCIS also confirmed today that due to the Supreme Court’s ruling, the rule will also go into effect in Illinois on February 24, 2020.

This case is far from over. We are presenting our case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit on Wednesday, February 26, arguing why the injunction we were granted in the fall should remain.

With our client Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, our co-counsel at Legal Council for Health Justice, and Sidley Austin LLP, and our co-plaintiff Cook County and its counsel, we will continue to bring our arguments to the courts to ensure that justice is secured for immigrants in Illinois and elsewhere.

As a co-convener of the Protecting Immigrant Families — Illinois coalition, we are in this fight together to protect all immigrant families, regardless of their financial security, the color of their skin, or their country of origin.

It is also important to remember that not all immigrant statuses are subject to the public charge rule and not all public benefits are included in the new public charge test.

Resources for Immigrants During the COVID- 19 Crisis.

This situation is still unfolding. We will post updates as it develops. For more information on public charge, visit the Protecting Immigrant Families – Illinois website.

Last updated on February 22, 2020 to reflect the February 21, 2020 ruling by the United States Supreme Court.

April 20th: Shriver Center Urges Supreme Court to Suspend Public Charge Rule

See below for media coverage on our case against the Trump Administration:

Chicago Tribune: Days after new immigration restrictions take effect, federal judges in Chicago grill Trump administration lawyer on so-called public charge rule

Chicago Sun-Times: Federal appeals court judges ask tough questions while mulling Trump’s new rules targeting poor immigrants

Univision Chicago: “Es una regla cruel e injusta”: organizaciones en Chicago exigen cambios en norma de carga pública

WBEZ: Fight Against New Public Charge Rule Continues In Illinois