A RESOLUTION rejecting the Federal Administration’s proposed public charge rule change as applied to legal permanent residency applications by immigrants because of the harm to, negative impact on, and chilling effect on immigrant communities’ access to vital services and cost-saving initiatives that keep families healthy and on the path towards economic self-sufficiency and success.
The report of the City Council Agenda Item one Resolution 31854. A resolution rejecting the federal administration's proposed public charge rule change as applied to legal permanent residency applications by immigrants. Because of the harm to negative impact on and chilling effect on immigrant communities, access to vital services and cost saving initiatives that keep families healthy and on the path toward economic self-sufficiency and success. Introduced November 19th, 2018. Counselor Juan Gonzalez. Thank you, Mr. President. I move to adopt resolution 31854. It's been moved in a second, and we have a resolution to consider. Thank you so much. Colleagues, as I mentioned this morning during council briefing, resolution 31854 allows the Seattle City Council to formally oppose the Trump administration's proposed rule change to what is commonly referred to as the public charge rule. As you heard, folks struggling already seeing public charge rule change five times really fast. On September 22nd, the Trump administration announced a proposed rule change that would negatively impact certain immigrants and immigrant families who access public services and benefits that help them stay healthy or pursue education and economic stability. Under current policies, when someone applies for a visa to enter the U.S. or for lawful permanent resident status, a U.S. government official looks at that person's life circumstances to see if the person is likely to depend on the government for support in the future and thus be a person that is likely to become a public charge. If they are deemed likely to become a public charge in the future, their application can be denied. The government is proposing to change the public charge policy dramatically to make it more difficult for low and moderate income families to come to and stay in the U.S.. This policy change is yet another way that the Trump administration is attacking immigrant communities in Seattle, in Washington state and across the country. This is an issue that directly impacts our public health community and those seeking to access it. In an op ed dated October 3rd, 2018. Dr. Ask, while getting a medical director of the Seattle based International Community Health Services, stated that the proposed rule change would directly impact patients at Ice Age, which sees approximately 17,000 Medicaid based patients, half of whom are non-U.S. citizens that are low income and have limited English proficiency. Doctor gets not provides us with with recent chilling real life examples of the impacts of this rule change where she writes quote, A patient from Eritrea refused enrollment in medical programs because he heard the government is, quote, unhappy, close quote, with immigrants receiving benefits. And immigrant father asks his wife and kids be terminated from their entitlements out of fear of deportation, despite the fact his child was not thriving and needed medical attention. These are, of course, anecdotal examples of impacts of a rule that has yet to be adopted and implemented. But let's imagine the consequences if the rule does pass and is not overturned by a court. Passage of this rule will undoubtedly cause fear and terror among our immigrant communities in Seattle. But the consequences are graver than that. In Washington state, food and nutrition advocates have expressed concern about the impact of this proposed rule on women, infants and children. In particular, programs like the Women, Infants and Children or Wik Food and Nutrition Services could be lost for mothers and their young children, which is a program that helps low income families access healthier foods and is considered a preventative health strategy that results in a more nutritious diet. Increased rates of immunization, a 44% reduction in rates of low birth rates, lower rates of childhood anemia, and an increase in a child's readiness to learn. In a Crosscut article published today in Nutrition Services, Supervisor at Ice Age reported a 10% drop in week enrollments at Ice Age clinics and as much as a 25% drop at its Shoreline Clinic. This is a shocking early trend, and we have no reason to believe that it will not worsen if this rule is adopted and unchallenged. And in fact, in Washington State, at least 244,800 people could be negatively affected by this rule change. This, of course, is unacceptable. Passage of this resolution will lay the framework for the city of Seattle to submit public comment to the Department of Homeland Security. And it reaffirms the city's commitment and support to the immigrant community and their health and access to vital city services, including to the Seattle King County Public Health System. With passage of this resolution, the city of Seattle joins more than 80,000 people and organizations, including Neighbor Care, Health, the Washington State Association of Headstart, ICAP and the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance. Washington Government Governor Jay Inslee and a bipartisan coalition of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, including Mayor Durkan, to call upon the federal government to abandon this proposed rule change. So I want to also encourage members of the public to join us in submitting comment in opposition to this proposed public charge rule change by no later than December 10th, 2018. If you are interested in submitting a public comment, you can use the form that is available at Protect Immigrant Families dot org, which my office will make available via our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts. I want to thank my colleagues in advance for their anticipated support of this resolution. I also want to thank the Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition for their work here in Washington State to educate, mobilize the public to call for this proposed rule change to. Be rejected. And I'd also like to thank Locally Children's Alliance and Romano's. We heard from Eric earlier today. When America is Crazy Moms Raising Columbia Legal Services, Latinos promoting good health and Northwest health advocates for their commitment to Washington families and their leadership on this issue. And we look forward to making sure that we can get as many public comments as we can by December 10th of 2008. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Councilmember Gonzalez. Any comments before we vote? I just want to think. Well, thank you and your testimony and Kathryn Gonzales for your leadership. Again, I think this morning during the briefing, when you describe it, you said it's a little wonky, but it's that kind of work that we have to do to establish the record. And sometimes the narrative is that we're trying to protect immigrants and refugees. Yes, we're trying to do that. But I think we're trying to protect our country by being embrace of. So thank you for your leadership and thank you for your advocacy. And having said that, it's been moved in second and already those in favor of adopting the resolution please vote i i those opposed vote no. The motion carries. The resolution is adopted and Cher will sign it. Okay. Is there any further business coming for the council? Yes, Councilmember us. Thank you. I would like to be excused from council December 3rd, December 10th and December 17th. It's been moved in second to excuse Catherine, whereas from December 3rd, 10th and 17th. Any comments? All those in favor say i. I. All those opposed. The ayes have it. Is there any further business giving for the council? No. Okay. We stand adjourned and everyone have a great rest of the day. Thank you. Okay.