Safety Net Access in the Context of the Public Charge Rule

This report shares insights from in-depth interviews with 25 adults in immigrant families who reported that they or a family member avoided participating in safety net programs like Medicaid, SNAP, or housing assistance in 2018 because of immigration concerns.

The findings provide a window into chilling effects resulting from proposed changes to the public charge rule. The study highlights fear and confusion about the proposed public charge rule, a reliance on the media for information with few people seeking professional advice, and hardship for children and adults after losing access to public supports.