Community groups hold workshop in Brighton Park to better protect immigrant families

Community groups hosted a know-your-rights workshop Friday in Brighton Park to learn the ins-and-outs of an upcoming rule change that could deny green cards to immigrants who use public assistance like food stamps and Medicaid.

The Trump administration is expanding the criteria that determine if an immigrant is considered a “public charge” — someone likely to use publicly-funded welfare programs if they become legal permanent residents.

Advocates say immigrant parents have been opting out of assistance programs they qualify for in fear of being deported or being denied citizenship down the line.

The workshop was intended to stop fear from spreading in Chicago’s large immigrant community by giving local leaders information about the changes, said Marilu Moreno, a program coordinator with the Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights.

“The more we know about our rights the less this administration will intimidate us,” said Moreno, who helped lead the workshop, held at the Esperanza Health Center.

Carlos Ballesteros/Sun-Times

Those attending included representatives from the Chicago Food Depository, Mujeres Latinas en Accion and the Southwest Organizing Project.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth and U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia kicked off the event.

Duckworth empathized with immigrant parents who may have to choose between applying for public assistance or becoming permanent legal residents.

“When I was 16, my family was on food stamps, and to think that my mom would not have been able to get a green card is heartless,” she said.

Garcia said Democrats in the House of Representatives have introduced legislation that would block the new rules.

“These changes risk deteriorating the health and livelihoods of our immigrant communities here and across the country,” he said in Spanish.

The United States has had rules in place since the late 19th century to deny legal status to immigrants who may become dependent on government services. But the new changes could deny green cards, visa extensions and status changes to immigrants who receive food stamps, Section 8 housing assistance, SNAP, Medicaid, and parts of Medicare. The changes were announced in August; they are expected to be implemented in October.

Nor does the “public charge” test apply to all immigrants. Some are exempt or can apply for a waiver, including refugees or people seeking or granted asylum.

Also, immigrant parents can still receive SNAP benefits for their children and not be considered a public charge.

Still, Dr. Nahiris Bahamon, a pediatrician with Esperanza, said the lead up to the rule changes already have filled many immigrant parents with fear.

“As a pediatrician, we see the effect of these rules changes on a daily basis,” she said. “I believe this rule is part of a coordinated anti-American effort targeting immigrants and people of color, telling communities if they are not wealthy or white, they do not belong here.”

Carlos Ballesteros is a corps member in Report for America, a not-for-profit journalism program that aims to bolster Sun-Times coverage of Chicago’s South and West sides.