ACLU Comment on Biden Executive Order on Discriminatory Public Charge Rule

February 2, 2021 9:00 pm

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NEW YORK — The Biden administration issued an executive order today that will remove barriers to legal immigration and promote a path to citizenship. This process will begin with revisiting the Trump administration’s “public charge” rule, which makes it harder for individuals with disabilities and low-income families who need certain government benefits to obtain green cards and visas.

Susan Mizner, director of the ACLU Disability Rights Project, had the following reaction:

“The public charge rule was another example of Trump’s hostility to immigrants and insensitivity to people with disabilities. The rule makes the absurd and false assumption that anyone who requires medical care, including immigrants with disabilities, wouldn’t be able to work or contribute to our society.

“We applaud the Biden administration for revisiting this discriminatory and unlawful rule and hope the administration will continue to fight for the rights of all immigrants, including immigrants with disabilities.”

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