WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressional Hispanic Caucus Vice Chair of Policy Congressman Rob Menendez today co-led 127 Members of Congress, including 17 Senators and 110 Members of the House, in urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to withdraw its proposed public charge rule, warning it would harm U.S. citizen children, immigrant communities, and public health systems nationwide.
“The Trump Administration’s proposed public charge rule is a clear effort to harm immigrant communities and make families afraid to access the services they need,” said Congressman Menendez. “This egregious proposed rule would not only hurt immigrants, but in many cases would restrict access to food, healthcare, childcare, education, and other essential resources for U.S. citizen children. My colleagues in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and House Democratic Caucus across the board will fight against this cruel and unwarranted effort to target families who have done nothing wrong.”
“The proposed public charge rule will lead to mass uncertainty, disparate and arbitrary outcomes for individuals applying for permanent status or admission into our country, and undue harm to U.S. citizens,” wrote the members, led by Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Adriano Espaillat, CHC Vice Chair of Policy Menendez, CAPAC Chair Grace Meng, Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Teresa Leger Fernández, Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette Clarke, in the House, and Sens. Cory Booker, Mazie Hirono, and Alex Padilla in the Senate.
The Trump administration's proposal would rescind the clear 2022 public charge regulations and replace them with vague, undefined standards, leading to arbitrary decision-making, fear, and widespread confusion. Past public charge expansions have driven families, including those with U.S. citizen children, away from lawful access to health care, nutrition, and early childhood programs.
“The chilling effects triggered by expansions of public charge interpretation are well-documented and severe. Research following [past public charge restrictions] showed that confusion about eligibility led large numbers of eligible immigrant families — including U.S. citizen children — to forego health insurance, nutrition supports, and early childhood programs vital to healthy development,” wrote the lawmakers.
The letter argues the proposal contradicts congressional intent, undermines the rule of law, and risks triggering a massive chilling effect that would worsen child health outcomes, increase food insecurity, and shift costs to states and local governments.
Members urge DHS to withdraw the proposal in full and maintain the 2022 regulations, which provide clarity, fairness, and consistency for families and adjudicators alike.
Congressman Menendez currently serves as Vice Chair of Policy for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and has been an outspoken leader on pushing back against President Trump and his Administration’s extreme immigration policies. He has led his Congressional colleagues in oversight efforts and advocated against policies that hurt immigrant communities.
You can read the full letter here.
