August 25, 2019 - "Latest Homeland Security Rule"

On August 13, 2019 bishops from two committees at the United States Conference at Catholic Bishops (USCCB) expressed their strong opposition to a final rule on public charge put forth by the Department of Homeland Security.  A rule on public charge would deny green cards to immigrants who receive public assistance, including food stamps, Medicaid, and housing vouchers.  The rule was published on August 12, 2019 and would take effect sixty days after publication.  Bishop Joe S. Vasquez of Austin, Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration, and Bishop Frank J. Dewane, Bishop of Venice, FL, Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development made the following statement:
 
“This rule will undermine family unity and lead many lawful immigrants to forgo vital assistance, including nutrition, housing, and medical programs.  Families already in the U.S. will be faced with deciding whether to access critical assistance programs for which they qualify, knowing that in doing so they could jeopardize their ability to stay here with their loved ones.  And, it will reduce the ability of many to reunify with family in the U.S.  We have already seen the culture of fear that the anticipation of this rule has created in our communities.  Ultimately, we believe that this rule is in tension with the dignity of the person and the common good that all of us are called to support.”
 
The concerns about this rule on public charge go back several months.  On December 3, 2018, Anthony R. Picarello, Jr., Associate General Secretary and General Counsel of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Brian Corbin, Executive Vice-President, Member Services, Catholic Charities USA, wrote to the Department of Homeland Security.  In their joint letter they listed four significant public policy concerns as reasons why this proposed rule should be withdrawn.  These are those significant public policy concerns:
 
· The Proposed Rule Negatively Impacts Family Unity and Stability
· The Proposed Rule Harms Low-Income and Working-Class Migrants
· The Proposed Rule Will Increase Costs and Complexity for Social Service Charitable Organizations
· The Proposed Rule Presents Life and Public Health Concerns
Anthony Picarello and Brian Corbin conclude their letter to the Department of Homeland Security by recalling that the centuries-long history of our nation has been characterized by families who have come here from distant lands and, through generations of hard work and prayer, have built up the richest bounty in the world.  This proposed rule signals a watershed change of course from the best moments of our heritage, to favor only the wealthy, and to turn away the families who come mostly with dreams and hope for their children.  As a nation, we are called to a better path, one that respects the life and dignity of all persons.

For centuries the experience of the Church in the United States through her charitable works and institutions has emphasized care for the stranger and care for the poor as essential ways of knowing God and living a good and holy life.  Pope Francis reminded us about this in his address to the U.S. Congress nearly four years ago:
 
In recent centuries, millions of people came to this land to pursue their dream of building a future in freedom.  We, the people of this continent, are not fearful of immigrants, knowing that so many of you are also descended from Immigrants…when the stranger in our midst appeals to us, we must not repeat the sins and the errors of the past.  We must resolve now to live as nobly as justly as possible, as we educate new generations not to turn their back on our ‘neighbors’ and everything around us.
 
Until next week,
Fr. John