Advocating for refugees' and immigrants' self-empowerment, fostering community bonds, and celebrating talents and traditions across cultures.
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Publication
November 29, 2018
COMMUNITY ADVOCATES SPEAK OUT AGAINST TRUMP’S LATEST “PUBLIC CHARGE” POLICY TARGETING IMMIGRANT FAMILIES
SPOKANE, Wash. — New federal regulations proposed by the Trump administration will hurt families’ ability to access crucial health and nutrition assistance, according to the Protecting Immigrant Rights – WA (PIF-WA) coalition, a group of organizations and service providers working with the state’s immigrant communities, which includes Refugee Connections Spokane.
The regulations, released by the Department of Homeland Security in draft form on September 22, broaden the criteria by which immigration authorities may deny permanent resident status if an applicant has legally accessed certain forms of federal benefits. The rule would effectively impose an income test on immigration, pricing millions of families out of the American dream.
“This is an additional step in the administration’s war on immigrant working people,” says Marijke Fakasiieiki, executive director of Refugee Connections Spokane. “The administration is putting immigrant families between a rock and a hard place—if they apply for public services they are eligible for, they undermine their family’s ability to stay in the U.S.”
By federal law, everyone seeking to become a permanent resident of the U.S. through a family member is already required to prove that they are not likely to become a “public charge.” Currently, for U.S. residents seeking green cards, the government defines a “public charge” as a person who has received cash income maintenance or been institutionalized for long-term care paid for by the government.
But the Trump administration would broaden the definition of public charge from primarily depending on to merely using a government program, and it would pertain to a wide range of additional forms of non-cash public assistance—among them Medicaid, food stamps, Section 8 housing assistance and Medicare prescription drug assistance. Lawfully present immigrants are legally eligible for these benefits.
Such a rule, say advocates, will drive immigrant families away from critical health, nutrition and other programs to help meet their basic needs.
As executive director of Refugee Connections Spokane, Fakasiieiki sent in a public comment referencing the commitment of her organization with a mission “to identify systemic issues which create barriers to the successful resettlement and the long term well-being of refugees and immigrants in the Spokane, Washington area”, to urge the Department of Homeland Security to “immediately withdraw the “public charge” proposed rule.”
An estimated 1 in 4 of Washington State’s 1.6 million children is either an immigrant or has a foreign-born parent. And nearly 80 percent of them are children of color.
Fears that the use of public benefits would result in action by immigration authorities have already resulted in parents withdrawing children from participation in critical programs, providers of basic services have noted.
Fakasiieiki states, “This policy will harm millions by undermining access to essential health, nutrition and shelter for immigrants and their families. As an agency serving refugees and immigrants, we expect thousands of people in our region would be affected, including women, men, children and elders who are seeking to create a better life for themselves.”
Even though the public charge test does not apply to refugees or asylees, news of the proposed rule has stoked fears among those communities as well.
Access to supports like healthy food and prescription drugs promote not just the well-being of individual households but entire communities. Immigrant families should be encouraged, not dissuaded, from using needed services to help their families. Economists forecast that future growth in the labor force will come from immigration, and our future depends on the success of immigrant families.
Community-based organizations note that families need not disenroll from public benefits in response to the draft rule’s release. If the rule were to become final—which would take several months—immigrants would not be penalized for having received benefits before the rule was finalized.
Above all, families who fear they may be affected by this rule should know they’re not alone, and that there’s time to fight back.
Fakasiieiki acknowledges, “The impact would be long-lasting and multi-generational. America should maintain a just and fair immigration policy, but should not victimize immigrants further.”
Advocates have alerted communities that the final version of the proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on October 10th. Once published in the Federal Register, members of the public have 60 days, through December 10th to file comments at www.regulations.gov/document?D=USCIS-2010-0012-0001 or through the www.protectingimmigrantfamilies.org website in opposition to its implementation. Advocates are rallying public comments from Washington state individuals and organizations in order to slow down or block the rule.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Marijke Fakasiieiki, Refugee Connections Spokane,
(509) 209-2384, (510) 529-5011 (cell)
www.refugeeconnectionsspokane.org
www.protectingimmigrantfamilies.org
For Immediate Publication
November 29, 2018
COMMUNITY ADVOCATES SPEAK OUT AGAINST TRUMP’S LATEST “PUBLIC CHARGE” POLICY TARGETING IMMIGRANT FAMILIES
SPOKANE, Wash. — New federal regulations proposed by the Trump administration will hurt families’ ability to access crucial health and nutrition assistance, according to the Protecting Immigrant Rights – WA (PIF-WA) coalition, a group of organizations and service providers working with the state’s immigrant communities, which includes Refugee Connections Spokane.
The regulations, released by the Department of Homeland Security in draft form on September 22, broaden the criteria by which immigration authorities may deny permanent resident status if an applicant has legally accessed certain forms of federal benefits. The rule would effectively impose an income test on immigration, pricing millions of families out of the American dream.
“This is an additional step in the administration’s war on immigrant working people,” says Marijke Fakasiieiki, executive director of Refugee Connections Spokane. “The administration is putting immigrant families between a rock and a hard place—if they apply for public services they are eligible for, they undermine their family’s ability to stay in the U.S.”
By federal law, everyone seeking to become a permanent resident of the U.S. through a family member is already required to prove that they are not likely to become a “public charge.” Currently, for U.S. residents seeking green cards, the government defines a “public charge” as a person who has received cash income maintenance or been institutionalized for long-term care paid for by the government.
But the Trump administration would broaden the definition of public charge from primarily depending on to merely using a government program, and it would pertain to a wide range of additional forms of non-cash public assistance—among them Medicaid, food stamps, Section 8 housing assistance and Medicare prescription drug assistance. Lawfully present immigrants are legally eligible for these benefits.
Such a rule, say advocates, will drive immigrant families away from critical health, nutrition and other programs to help meet their basic needs.
As executive director of Refugee Connections Spokane, Fakasiieiki sent in a public comment referencing the commitment of her organization with a mission “to identify systemic issues which create barriers to the successful resettlement and the long term well-being of refugees and immigrants in the Spokane, Washington area”, to urge the Department of Homeland Security to “immediately withdraw the “public charge” proposed rule.”
An estimated 1 in 4 of Washington State’s 1.6 million children is either an immigrant or has a foreign-born parent. And nearly 80 percent of them are children of color.
Fears that the use of public benefits would result in action by immigration authorities have already resulted in parents withdrawing children from participation in critical programs, providers of basic services have noted.
Fakasiieiki states, “This policy will harm millions by undermining access to essential health, nutrition and shelter for immigrants and their families. As an agency serving refugees and immigrants, we expect thousands of people in our region would be affected, including women, men, children and elders who are seeking to create a better life for themselves.”
Even though the public charge test does not apply to refugees or asylees, news of the proposed rule has stoked fears among those communities as well.
Access to supports like healthy food and prescription drugs promote not just the well-being of individual households but entire communities. Immigrant families should be encouraged, not dissuaded, from using needed services to help their families. Economists forecast that future growth in the labor force will come from immigration, and our future depends on the success of immigrant families.
Community-based organizations note that families need not disenroll from public benefits in response to the draft rule’s release. If the rule were to become final—which would take several months—immigrants would not be penalized for having received benefits before the rule was finalized.
Above all, families who fear they may be affected by this rule should know they’re not alone, and that there’s time to fight back.
Fakasiieiki acknowledges, “The impact would be long-lasting and multi-generational. America should maintain a just and fair immigration policy, but should not victimize immigrants further.”
Advocates have alerted communities that the final version of the proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on October 10th. Once published in the Federal Register, members of the public have 60 days, through December 10th to file comments at www.regulations.gov/document?D=USCIS-2010-0012-0001 or through the www.protectingimmigrantfamilies.org website in opposition to its implementation. Advocates are rallying public comments from Washington state individuals and organizations in order to slow down or block the rule.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Marijke Fakasiieiki, Refugee Connections Spokane,
(509) 209-2384, (510) 529-5011 (cell)
www.refugeeconnectionsspokane.org
www.protectingimmigrantfamilies.org
November 21, 2018
Dear Friend of Refugee Connections Spokane,
On this Giving Tuesday, Refugee Connections Spokane thanks you for your past gifts to our organization. 2018 has been an unprecedented year worldwide with wars and other disasters continuing the refugee crisis. Due to media coverage of hate speech, the plight of refugees and immigrants, especially those living in Spokane, is of grave concern. That is why our efforts to bring refugees and immigrants together with peers and to participate in civic and cultural activities is vital in this community.
Your gift of $50 transports refugees for the Refugees’ Harvest Project. Inspired by a refugee, it began in 2011. Each year since then, it has created an opportunity for refugees to pick fruits and vegetables to contribute to the health of low income and refugee communities.
Your gift of $100 aids Cross-Cultural Navigators to empower refugees and immigrants in the Refugee Elder Outreach Program who come to the United States later in life. This project is dedicated specifically to elders in the community by including them in refugee/immigrant tailored activities and events such as ESL classes, civic and cultural field trips, Citizenship classes, Music as a First Language, workshops on elder services and participation in community events.
Your gift of $250 would help us relaunch American Law and Justice Workshops/Police Outreach to help refugee and immigrant populations understand what their legal rights are in the U.S. There would be translation to help overcome language barriers.
Your gift of $500 helps us launch Refugee Stories: Voice of Hope, which seeks to highlight the gifts of refugees and immigrants in our Spokane area through storytelling, whether in writing, audio or video formats, to be published on our website and Facebook and other social media platforms.
Your gift of $1000 launches World Refugee Day, which celebrates the strength and cultural diversity of refugees worldwide. Refugee Connections Spokane collaborates with community partners to create a safe forum for refugees and other Spokane community members to celebrate their talents and traditions across cultures.
You gift of $2500 engages and mentors youth through Refugee Kids Connect, an outreach program designed to serve the needs of refugee youth in Spokane. It has already reached out to serve almost 30 youth. It promotes leadership skills, engages with community, builds confidence, assists with education and English, and creates a safe space for youth to integrate into a new culture while also preserving and embracing cultural traditions.
Your gift of $5000 or more sustains our support team and widens our presence in the community, growing our daily interactions with community leaders and agencies and helping us advance the cause of education and advocacy.
Now, more than ever, please take the time to support our mission so that this valuable group of people can continue to learn about and contribute to our society. To donate, go to http://www.refugeeconnectionsspokane.org/get-involved.html or select the donation button.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Best regards,
Marijke Fakasiieiki
Executive Director
Refugee Connections Spokane
rcs@refugeeconnectionsspokane.org
Dear Friend of Refugee Connections Spokane,
On this Giving Tuesday, Refugee Connections Spokane thanks you for your past gifts to our organization. 2018 has been an unprecedented year worldwide with wars and other disasters continuing the refugee crisis. Due to media coverage of hate speech, the plight of refugees and immigrants, especially those living in Spokane, is of grave concern. That is why our efforts to bring refugees and immigrants together with peers and to participate in civic and cultural activities is vital in this community.
Your gift of $50 transports refugees for the Refugees’ Harvest Project. Inspired by a refugee, it began in 2011. Each year since then, it has created an opportunity for refugees to pick fruits and vegetables to contribute to the health of low income and refugee communities.
Your gift of $100 aids Cross-Cultural Navigators to empower refugees and immigrants in the Refugee Elder Outreach Program who come to the United States later in life. This project is dedicated specifically to elders in the community by including them in refugee/immigrant tailored activities and events such as ESL classes, civic and cultural field trips, Citizenship classes, Music as a First Language, workshops on elder services and participation in community events.
Your gift of $250 would help us relaunch American Law and Justice Workshops/Police Outreach to help refugee and immigrant populations understand what their legal rights are in the U.S. There would be translation to help overcome language barriers.
Your gift of $500 helps us launch Refugee Stories: Voice of Hope, which seeks to highlight the gifts of refugees and immigrants in our Spokane area through storytelling, whether in writing, audio or video formats, to be published on our website and Facebook and other social media platforms.
Your gift of $1000 launches World Refugee Day, which celebrates the strength and cultural diversity of refugees worldwide. Refugee Connections Spokane collaborates with community partners to create a safe forum for refugees and other Spokane community members to celebrate their talents and traditions across cultures.
You gift of $2500 engages and mentors youth through Refugee Kids Connect, an outreach program designed to serve the needs of refugee youth in Spokane. It has already reached out to serve almost 30 youth. It promotes leadership skills, engages with community, builds confidence, assists with education and English, and creates a safe space for youth to integrate into a new culture while also preserving and embracing cultural traditions.
Your gift of $5000 or more sustains our support team and widens our presence in the community, growing our daily interactions with community leaders and agencies and helping us advance the cause of education and advocacy.
Now, more than ever, please take the time to support our mission so that this valuable group of people can continue to learn about and contribute to our society. To donate, go to http://www.refugeeconnectionsspokane.org/get-involved.html or select the donation button.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Best regards,
Marijke Fakasiieiki
Executive Director
Refugee Connections Spokane
rcs@refugeeconnectionsspokane.org
