Statement by Presidents’ Alliance on Supreme Court’s Decision Allowing Implementation of Public Charge Rule

STATEMENT BY PRESIDENTS’ ALLIANCE ON SUPREME COURT’S DECISION ALLOWING IMPLEMENTATION OF PUBLIC CHARGE RULE

LINK TO DOWNLOAD THE STATEMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 28, 2020

Contact: Jose Magaña-Salgado (jose@presidentsalliance.org) 

Washington, D.C.—In response to the Supreme Court’s decision to lift the stay on the preliminary injunctions preventing the administration’s public charge rule from moving forward, Miriam Feldblum, Executive Director of the Presidents’ Alliance, released the following statement:

“The Supreme Court’s ruling was disappointing, particularly because multiple federal district courts have preliminarily concluded that there are several fatal legal flaws endemic to the administration’s public charge rule. The chilling effect of the public charge rule cannot be understated. Immigrant students and their families will be less likely to seek and obtain critically needed nutritional and social safety net services, undermining their ability to succeed in the higher education realm. Furthermore, while the public charge does not apply to educational benefits, ESL classes, adult education, or workforce development services, we are very concerned about the confusion and uncertainty about these critical programs that the rule has generated for students.   Previously, the Presidents’ Alliance and partners filed several amicus briefs opposing the public charge rule and its potential negative impact on students and their families. We will continue to work with our partners to educate the administration, courts, and stakeholders regarding the extremely negative impacts of this rule.”

The nonpartisan Presidents’ Alliance brings together college and university leaders dedicated to increasing public understanding of how immigration policies and practices impact our students, campuses and communities, and supporting policies that create a welcoming environment for undocumented, immigrant, and international students. The Presidents’ Alliance is comprised of over 450 presidents and chancellors of public and private colleges and universities, representing over four million students in 41 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico. Learn more at http://presidentsimmigrationalliance.org/ and follow us at @PresImmAlliance.  

###