CAA Hosts Press Conference Denouncing New “Public Charge” Rules

Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA) hosts a press conference with public agencies and the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, and denounced the Trump Administration’s most recent attacks on low-income immigrant families through changes in “public charge” rules. Advocates and public officials coalesced to uplift San Francisco’s inclusive values and shared critical information on how immigrants should respond when accessing public benefits.

“Public charge” is a label used by the US government to determine whether immigrants could become dependent on government assistance. The change penalizes immigrants through harming their ability to apply for green cards and curbs future migration via family sponsorship if enrolled in certain public benefits such as Medi-Cal, SNAP, and SSI.

Please call CAA if you need any immigrant rights services at 415-761-3222 or you can visit immigrants.sfgov.org for more information.

In attendance:
• Adrienne Pon, Executive Director, Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs
• Chandra Johnson, Director of Communications, Human Services Agency
• Erin Quinn, Senior Staff Attorney, Immigrant Legal Resource Center
• Hong Mei Pang, Director of Advocacy, Chinese for Affirmative Action
• Mason Lee, Communications Aide, Office of the Mayor

See below for clips from the press conference.

Erin Quinn, Senior Staff Attorney, Immigrant Legal Resource Center

Adrienne Pon, Executive Director, Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs

Mason Lee, Communications Aide, Office of the Mayor

Chandra Johnson, Director of Communications, Human Services Agency
Hong Mei Pang, Director of Advocacy, Chinese for Affirmative
Action

Q&A Session: Reporter asks about pending litigation and if immigrants should apply for permanent residency now in advance of the rule taking effect on 10/15
Q&A Session: Reporter asks if “public charge” rule would affect immigrant mothers and their American born children.