"One Sick Immigration Rule: The ‘Public Charge’ Regulation Will Make America Less Healthy"-Kenneth L. Davis

Deep within the fine print of a newly proposed federal rule change is an admission of its disastrous health consequences. The Department of Homeland Security’s plan would deny legal immigrants permanent residency status if they accept government assistance to which they are entitled, allegedly an effort to “promote immigrant self-sufficiency” and ensure “they are not likely to become burdens on American taxpayers” or “public charges.” Kenneth L. Davis, MD, president and CEO of the Mount Sinai Health System writes, that certain collateral damage of this misguided policy, which greatly expands an existing principle to make its application downright punitive, reveals it’s not about promoting self-sufficiency at all.” He continues, “The rule change, if implemented, will cause legal immigrants, their spouses and children, including U.S. citizens, to withdraw from government assistance programs out of fear that would endanger the chances for a family member to obtain a green card and become a legal permanent resident.” He writes, “As the CEO of a health system that works to maintain the good health of hundreds of thousands of first-generation Americans, I am extremely concerned about the consequences.”

- Kenneth L. Davis, MD, President, CEO, Mount Sinai Health System

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