Immigrants are afraid to use social benefits in the US, for fear of losing the green card

A new study found that immigrants to the United States and their families refuse basic social benefits, such as public housing, food stamps, and Medicare, because of fear of punishment from immigration authorities.

Фото: Depositphotos

According to the Urban Institute, in 2018, one out of seven immigrants refused social benefits programs because of fears that this would affect their immigration status and the possibility of obtaining a green card, writes Newsweek.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for limiting the issuance of green cards for migrants who use social benefits or are not financially independent. A similar rule is contained in its recently submitted immigration plan.

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Presidential allegations that migrants are abusing the social security system have intensified since the 2016 elections of the year. In October 2018, the Trump administration proposed a rule that would facilitate the expulsion from the country of immigrants using social benefits. The rule is currently being finalized. According to the Urban Institute, these policy changes and the president’s rhetoric have had a frightening effect on immigrants, and they are increasingly refusing social assistance.

The study also showed that although the change proposed by Trump will only affect immigrants who do not yet have a green card, families with mixed immigration status also avoid social assistance programs. Families with children are more afraid of the influence of the new rule. About 17,4% of adults living in immigrant families with children under the age of 19 years, have stated the possible detrimental consequences of such a decision on their lives.

“It is expected that the chilling effect is likely to be further enhanced if the proposal is implemented,” the study concluded.

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Confusion and fear around when a new immigration rule can be made, and how widespread it will be, lead to the spread of fear among immigrants.

This is the first analytical study on the impact of presidential immigration policies on the use of social security programs.

“Nothing has changed legally for SNAP (the low-income food assistance program, also known as food stamps), but with looming immigration enforcement, there are concerns that eligible immigrants are afraid or reluctant to apply,” she said. Brynn Keith-Jennings is a senior food assistance analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

The study is based on a survey of approximately 2000 adult immigrants in December 2018.

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