Shriver Center Trains Advocates and Community Members on New Public Charge Rule

No one should have to choose between meeting their basic needs and being with their loved ones. Fortunately, the Trump administration’s cruel public charge rule—which effectively denied millions of immigrant families health care, housing, and economic support—has been invalidated and replaced by a new rule.

Recently, the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of a lower court’s ruling denying Texas and other states attempts to reopen the litigation invalidating the Trump-era public charge rule. The underlying case, filed by the Shriver Center on Poverty Law and other partners, marked a victory for immigrants nationwide.

The new rule, finalized by the Biden administration in December 2022, largely restores and improves upon the public charge policy in place for 20 years prior to the Trump administration. Implementation of the new rule creates a unique opportunity to thaw the chilling effect created by the Trump-era rule and help immigrant families get the care and aid they need.

The Shriver Center is actively working to train and inform advocates and community members on the new public charge rule. Our advocates are working on the steering committees of both the national Protecting Immigrant Families (PIF) coalition and PIF Illinois. In the coming months, we will participate in Facebook Live and Zoom events, offered in both Spanish and English, to educate impacted communities about the new rule. In partnership with PIF, we will also create, update, and share resources and community engagement materials.  

Families should not have to worry if seeking health care or finding their next meal will jeopardize their stay and future in this country. The Shriver Center will continue to defend and protect immigrants’ rights to access essential services for themselves and their families.