Trump Administration Issues Final Public Charge Rule, Ignores Public Comments on Harm to Children

On July 20, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued final regulations lifting current rules used to determine whether an immigrant is likely to become a “public charge”. The final rule, which takes effect on September 18, eliminates a century of established policy, carefully calibrated to address policy issues and undefined terms in…

July 24, 2026

By

Joan Alker

Research & Reports

Restoring the Public Charge Policy

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a final regulation that restores longstanding public charge policy, effective December 23, 2022. This comes after attempts by the Trump Administration to radically expand the scope and nature of the public charge test, making it much harder for some immigrants to adjust their status and discouraging many more…

October 12, 2022

By

Kelly Whitener

Research & Reports

Comments on Temporary Increase in FMAP in Response to Covid-19 Public Health Emergency Reopening of Public Comment

Georgetown University Center for Children and Families submitted comments to CMS on the “Medicaid Program; Temporary Increase in Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) in Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE); Reopening of Public Comment Period”. CCF Comments IFR-C MOE 2022

October 27, 2022

By

Kelly Whitener

Research & Reports

CCF Comments on “Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility” NPRM

The Georgetown University Center for Children and Families submitted the following comments to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services regarding the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: “Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility.” Read the Comments

December 27, 2025

Comments on Federal Regulations

Comments on Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility

Georgetown University Center for Children and Families submitted the following comments on DHS Docket No. USCIS–2021–0013, the notice of proposed rulemaking, “Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility.”

April 25, 2022

By

Leonardo Cuello

Comments on Federal Regulations

Comments on Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility

The Georgetown University Center for Children and Families submitted the following comments to the Department of Homeland Security on the advance notice of proposed rulemaking, “Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility.” Public Charge ANPRM CCF Comment Letter Final 10.22.2021

October 22, 2021

By

Leonardo Cuello

and

Kelly Whitener

Blog

Biden Administration Releases Final Rule on Public Charge

After years of seemingly ever-changing rules around public charge, it comes as a relief to see a final rule that is faithful to the statute and supported by extensive policy evidence. The definition of public charge in the final rule is consistent with long established public charge policy and law, unlike the rules under the…

September 8, 2022

By

Kelly Whitener

Blog

New CMCS Informational Bulletin on Public Charge

Yesterday, CMCS released a new Informational Bulletin reminding states that the public charge rules have changed and emphasizing that Medicaid and CHIP benefits will not be considered when immigrants apply for a green card. The Trump Administration sought to change the public charge rules – rules that are used as part of an immigrant’s application…

July 23, 2021

By

Kelly Whitener

Blog

New Research Confirms the Public Charge Rule Deters Eligible Immigrant Families from Using Public Benefits

Researchers at the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) released a commentary in December documenting the chilling effects of the public charge rule on immigrant families’ use of benefits. Sadly, the American Community Survey (ACS) data confirm concerns raised by experts and advocates that the new public charge rule would deter large numbers of immigrant-led households from…

January 15, 2021

By

Kelly Whitener

Blog

HHS Secretary Becerra Extends the Public Health Emergency into 2023

HHS Secretary Becerra has declared that the COVID-19 public health emergency is extended for another 90 days through January 11, 2023. This means that February 1, 2023, is the earliest that the Medicaid continuous coverage protection would be lifted and states could begin to disenroll people after completing a full renewal and review of ongoing…

October 13, 2022

By

Tricia Brooks

Blog

Medicaid and CHIP Cover More than 4 in 10 Students in Public Schools Nationwide

School-aged children across the nation are facing a mounting mental health crisis, exacerbated by policy changes affecting immigration and Medicaid. As we’ve written before, Medicaid and CHIP are vital supporters of student success, both during the school years and into adulthood. Understanding the landscape of Medicaid/CHIP coverage in local school districts is paramount to connecting…

March 25, 2026

By

Aubrianna Osorio

and

Hannah Green

Blog

President Biden’s Executive Order on Public Charge

On February 2, 2021, President Biden issued an Executive Order (EO) on various aspects of the U.S. immigration system, including public charge policies. Readers of SayAhhh! know that the Trump Administration changed longstanding public charge policies to make it harder for lawfully residing immigrants to obtain green cards by imposing a new wealth test. Though…

February 8, 2021

By

Kelly Whitener

Blog

District Court Finds Public Charge Rules are Against Public’s Best Interest but Appeals Court Limits Injunction to Three States

Editor’s Note: On September 9, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a final rule called Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility that will restore longstanding public charge policy effective December 23, 2022. Learn more in our factsheet. The COVID-19 pandemic has upended every aspect of our lives – health, work, home life, financial stability – and…

August 13, 2020

By

Kelly Whitener

Blog

We Need to Name it: Racism is a Public Health Crisis

Our country boils over in tension about the inaction of our leaders to address (among other things) the clear police brutality and racism that has led to the murder of Black Americans, most recently George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. We were already witnessing the COVID-19 pandemic further expose the fault lines within our health system…

June 2, 2020

By

Elisabeth Wright Burak

Blog

Stakeholders Invited to Engage with DHS to Achieve a Fairer Public Charge Policy

Earlier this week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) requesting broad public feedback on the public charge ground of inadmissibility. If you’re scratching your head at the idea of an “A”NPRM, you’re not alone. Think of it as a Request for Information (RFI) specifically tied to the…

August 27, 2021

By

Kelly Whitener

Media Coverage

Advocates Fear ‘Chilling Effect’ of Public Charge Rule

Medpage Today The Trump administration’s “public charge” rule — currently in effect after Supreme Court rulings in January and last week — could have a “chilling effect” on immigrants considering signing up for Medicaid, analysts said. … However, there are facets to the rule that many immigrants aren’t aware of, according to Kelly Whitener, of…

February 28, 2020

By

News Article

Blog

Proposed Public Charge Rule Could Increase the Number of Uninsured Children by More than 25 Percent

Georgetown CCF just submitted our comments on the Trump Administration’s proposed rule to lift current rules used to determine whether an immigrant is likely to become a “public charge”. The proposed rule would replace carefully crafted existing regulations with almost unlimited discretion for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers to “use their judgment” to determine…

December 19, 2025

By

Joan Alker

and

Kelly Whitener

Blog

Unwinding Wednesday #14: More States Make Unwinding-Related Materials Publicly Available

Just over three months ago, we published our 50-State Unwinding Tracker, kicking off our Unwinding Wednesday blog series. As we approach the end of the year, I want to reflect on the progress we’ve seen in our tracker of states publishing information and taking steps toward preparing for the unwinding. In our tracker, we identified…

December 14, 2022

By

Allexa Gardner

Blog

American Rescue Plan Act Will Strengthen Public and Private Health Insurance

The House and Senate have passed the American Rescue Plan and the President plans to sign it tomorrow bringing critical relief to America’s families. In addition to providing relief to unemployed workers, pulling millions of children and families out of poverty and helping school districts address learning loss, the COVID-19 relief legislation will strengthen both…

March 11, 2021

By

Edwin Park

and

Sabrina Corlette

Blog

Biden Administration Promises Predictability on Future Extensions of the Public Health Emergency

In a recent letter to Governors, Acting Health and Human Services Secretary Norris Cochran signaled that the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) “will likely remain in place for the entirety of 2021.” Moreover, the letter assures states that when a determination is made to terminate the PHE or let it expire, HHS will provide states…

January 24, 2021

By

Tricia Brooks

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