If you thought the Trump administration couldn’t take a more hard-line approach to immigration, think again.A leaked proposal from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would penalize legal immigrants who use government subsidies or benefits for themselves or their kids. The proposed rules would allow the government to label these immigrants as “public charges,” which could prevent them from obtaining a green card or even renewing a visa.Reuters first obtained the draft document Thursday and Vox released a portion of it early Friday. According to the reports, immigrants who use of any of the following services for six months or more could be disqualified for future legal residency, even if their kids are U.S. citizens. This includes but is not limited to:
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- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, aka food stamps
- State Children’s Health Insurance Program, which provides low-cost medical care for children whose families make too much to qualify for Medicaid but aren’t able to purchase other forms of insurance
- Women, Infants, and Children assistance, which covers medical care for pregnant/breastfeeding/post-partum women and their children under age 5
- Select educational benefits for children under Head Start, which gives education and health services to low-income children in preschool and early elementary school
- Low-income housing assistance, including federal grants, tax credits, or reduced-interest loans.