States are leading the way in making the EITC more inclusive for immigrant communities, many of whom are barred from accessing the federal EITC. This summer, Colorado, along with shepherding a state increase from 10 to 15 percent of the federal credit, became the first state to allow all state ITIN filers to claim the…
On February 24th, the “public charge” regulation – which essentially institutes a wealth test on the immigration system – took effect. Litigation is proceeding in the lower courts, but in the meantime, the regulations are continuing to sow fear and confusion in immigrant communities, harming the health, nutrition, and housing of immigrant families nationwide. The Protecting Immigrant…
In October, federal courts blocked the Trump Administration’s “public charge” regulation from taking effect. The injunction keeps current rules for applicants seeking permanent residency or a non-immigrant visa in effect while litigation continues. The chilling effect of the rule’s threat, however, is a continuing concern, and fear of the repercussions of applying for public benefits…
Under a proposed federal rule, immigrants seeking admission to the U.S. or applying for lawful permanent residency could be denied if family members, including U.S. citizen children, receive public benefits for which they are eligible. This proposed “public charge” rule would allow DHS/USCIS to consider an extremely broad array of services and benefits, including the EITC. Listen to…
The Department of Homeland Security has proposed a new federal regulation that expands the definition of “public charge,” – a term used by U.S. immigration officials to describe a person who “is likely to become primarily dependent on the government for subsistence.” The proposed expansion of this definition would allow officials to factor in the…
Children of immigrants face a range of risks and unique vulnerabilities, exacerbated by recent policy changes, executive actions, and rhetoric. Two new reports issued by CLASP focus on the immediate and long-term consequences on young children in immigrant families and provide recommendations for supporting immigrant families and placing children’s health and well-being front and center. CLASP will be…
An October report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) demonstrates that federal safety net programs – including refundable tax credits – have driven a significant decline in child poverty over the last decades. Researchers analyzed data from the federal Supplemental Poverty Measure – which includes income from SNAP and other federal non-cash benefits and refundable tax…
In recent months, advocates have noted the chilling effect proposed and actual policies that impact immigrant families have had in the context of access to government programs and services. Tax filings during this past tax season may also be part of this story as advocates fear that immigration policies kept undocumented immigrants from filing tax…
Immigrant rights organizations are actively monitoring a leaked draft Executive Order that would make legal permanent residents more vulnerable to deportation when using federal means-tested public benefits. In addition to additional restrictions, the draft EO includes a tax credit component – it would limit access to the Child Tax Credit (CTC) to households in which…
The 2016 KIDS COUNT data book, produced annually by The Annie E. Casey Foundation, ranks all 50 states in multiple areas of child well-being. The rankings also make a strong case for state EITCs as states with state credits tend to rank higher on overall child well-being. For instance, Minnesota and Massachusetts, which ranked highest, have…