LIRS on Proposed Public Charge Rule Change

The president of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service recently wrote the following, "The promise of America has always been that, if you put in the effort, you can surmount your difficulties, start over and achieve. The new Public Charge rule breaks that promise - but only for the poor. It must be overturned."

The proposed change would exclude some immigrants who may need certain kinds of public assistance at some point in their life.

When I was a student in the seminary, I was encouraged to use government housing for low income people, which includes seminarians. I read recently virtually everyone has used some form of public assistance at some point in their lives.