The Workers Circle Applauds the Biden Administration’s Rejection of Harmful Public Charge Rule

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 2, 2021

Contact: Karin Venegas, karin@anatgerstein.com, 347-361-7049
Lynsey Billet, lynsey@anatgerstein.com, 347-361-8449 

Executive Orders Signed Today are Important First Step to Create a More Just, Compassionate Immigration System  

(NEW YORK) -- Regarding President Biden’s signing of a number of executive orders and actions today focused on improving our country’s immigration system, Ann Toback, CEO of the Workers Circle, a progressive Jewish social justice nonprofit founded by Eastern European immigrants in 1900, released the following statement:

“We applaud President Biden for taking swift action to begin dismantling the cruel and unjust immigration policies of the previous administration.

We are gratified that the Biden-Harris Administration has signaled its intention to roll back the previous administration’s harmful expansion of the public charge rule — a racially-motivated wealth test designed to stop low-income persons from immigrating to the US and prevent low-income immigrants already living here from becoming permanent residents if they have used or are likely to use public benefits. During the pandemic, this policy has caused confusion and fear, deterring immigrants from accessing crucial health care, food and housing benefits lest it negatively impact their immigration status.

We welcome this important first step and we will continue advocating together with immigrant rights groups until the Biden-Harris Administration ends this cruel public charge rule once and for all.”