The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
‘A hostile environment’
Local agencies: Federal policy change makes it harder for immigrants to find security, fully contribute to society
GREENWICH — Local agencies serving immigrants say a new rule announced by the Trump administration misrepresents immigrants and will make it harder for them to find security and fully contribute to society.
Although President Donald Trump has long campaigned on a promise to crack down on illegal immigration, the new policy targets those seeking to enter or stay in the United States legally.
“I think it’s just overall part of fulfilling his campaign promise, which is to limit immigration and also to make it very difficult or a hostile environment for those that are in the country, to remain in this country,” said Alan Barry, commissioner of human services in Greenwich. “I think what’s behind this is the inference that these are lazy people that are just taking advantage of the system, and that’s not true. These are very hardworking people doing their best to support themselves and their families, and these benefits help them to be able to patch together their ability to do that.”
The new move, effective in midOctober, was announced Monday morning on the Federal Register’s website, which publishes the rules and regulations established by the executive branch of the federal government.
“We want to see people coming to this country who are selfsufficient,” said Acting Director of Citizenship and Immigration Services Ken Cuccinelli. “That’s a core principal of the American dream. It’s deeply embedded in our history, and particularly our history related to legal immigration.”
Immediately after the
notice was posted, immigration advocates and social services agencies jumped to condemn the policy, saying it will make it harder for legal immigrants using public benefits — such as Medicaid, food stamps or housing vouchers — to obtain a green card or U.S. citizenship.
Local advocates, like Barry, called the change “punitive” and “hostile” as it could force millions of lowincome immigrants living in the U.S. legally to choose between accepting assistance or a green card that allows them to seek permanent citizenship status.
Some state and national leaders, including U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, DConn., questioned the efficacy of the policy.
“President Trump’s new rule isn’t about keeping our borders secure or more efficient government spending – it’s about starving children to advance a xenophobic antiimmigrant agenda,” he said in an email. “This deeply cruel policy is despicable. This rule betrays basic American values, promoting an antiquated ‘pull yourself up your bootstraps’ mentality, even as Ken Cuccinelli steals the boots right off your feet.”
Local and state Republican Party leaders were contacted but could not be reached for comment for this story.
Since the announcement, immigration advocates and service providers have found themselves inundated with calls from the news media and clients alike.
Alicia Kinsman, senior staff attorney for the Bridgeportbased Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants, said her phone has been ringing nonstop. Clients have been texting, calling and emailing her to ask the same question: How will this new policy affect them?
“They’re asking if they need to drop their benefits now,” she said. “Most of my clients are victims of serious crimes and they have humanitarian visas. So, they’re exempt from the ‘public charge’ determination. So, this isn’t going to change anything for them but that doesn’t make it any less scary. They’re terrified and it’s confusing.”
Federal law already requires those seeking permanent residency to show that they won’t be a burden to the United States, also known as a “public charge,” but the new policy details new ways the government could disqualify them.
To determine whether to grant green cards, Citizenship and Immigration Services will now weigh public assistance along with other factors such as education, household income and health.
Immigration advocates and social services agencies fear government officials will now have too much power and might deny permanent status to scores of people. While only documented immigrants are eligible for financial assistance, federally or locally, service providers, like Barry, fear the policy will drive legal and undocumented immigrants alike underground, forcing them to forego health care and financial assistance, necessary for living healthy lives.
When news about the proposed policy leaked last fall, the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees Citizenship and Immigration Services, received more than 265,000 public comments, more than triple the average number. The department made a series of amendments, as a result.
Since then, a number of Kinsman’s clients have dropped their benefits or let them lapse, out of fear for their own safety, the CIRI attorney said.
“The main takeaway for me is the humanitarian impact, that families, whether or not they would actually be affected by the new rule, might drop critical benefits or not seek them, because of their fear,” Kinsman said. “The main target, again, seeks to be lawful immigrants, those who are attempting to navigate an already complex legal process and now have yet another obstacle.”
Catalina Horak, executive director at Building One Community in Stamford, said she’s most worried about the children whose parents who won’t apply for free and reducedprice lunch because they mistakenly think it’s a federal program.
“Some of the parents might think applying for free and reduced lunch, which is a state and city program, (might have something) to do with the federal program,” she said. “We’re worried about families not applying for free and reduced lunch, which are school programs. That’s one thing that’s important to understand and (there’s) a ripple effect of this, as well.”
On Monday afternoon, Horak said she hadn’t heard much reaction about the new policy from her immigrant clients, who receive workforce, language and legal services at Building One Community.
“I think this requires a little bit of a level of sophistication and access to the mainstream media,” she said. “I think tomorrow might be a different day.”
Her clients’ concerns include a feeling of being unwelcome and fearing for their safety, even in a city like Stamford that’s generally “welcoming” to immigrants, Horak said.
In a move planned before knowing the policy would be posted, Horak organized a rally Monday evening at her facility that included immigrants, state leaders — including Blumenthal, state Attorney General William Tong, state Sen. Carlo Leone, DStamford, and state Reps. Matt Blumenthal and Caroline Simmons, DStamford — and local stakeholders including police and school officials. The discussion focused on addressing fears and concerns of immigrants and sending them a message that they’re supported and welcomed locally.