On February 2, 2021, President Biden signed an Executive Order which, among other actions, directed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to review all agency actions related to implementation of the Public Charge rule. DHS is now required to submit their report of the review, along with recommendations, to the President within 60 days of execution of the Executive Order. While this action is a critical first step in reversing the Trump Administration’s harmful and restrictive rule, the Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds rule from DHS still remains in effect nationwide as of February 24, 2020.
However, it is important to note that this rule does not apply to all immigrants and will not apply to the testing, screening, or treatment of communicable diseases, including COVID-19. Before disenrolling from any benefits, we encourage you or your client to consult with an immigration attorney or utilize any of the other resources below. You can also find an FAQ from the National Low Income Housing Coalition on immigrant eligibility for certain COVID-19 relief programs, such as emergency rental assistance, and any potential public charge implications associated with them here.
Screening Web Tool:
Additional immigration and legal resources can be viewed at the following places:
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List of Immigration Legal Services in Los Angeles County can be found here
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Los Angeles County’s Office of Immigrant Affairs website can be found here
LAHSA will continue to monitro the Public Charge rule and keep you updated on efforts to remove this harmful rule. If you have any qquestions , please feel free to reach out to LAHSA's Legislative Analyst, Samantha Vethavanam by email.