The Trump administration wants to make it so only the wealthiest can make the US their home. They want to force immigrants to choose between their health, housing, and food assistance and keeping their families together. We have until December 10^th to submit public comment against these changes.

What is Public Charge?

Public Charge is an existing rule used by immigration officials when determining Legal Permanent Residency applications (the green card) based on family petitions or employment, or Visa applications when seeking to enter the country. “Public Charge” refers to a person who is considered likely to become primarily dependent on the government for subsistence. The Public Charge rule does NOT apply to Refugees, Asylees, Survivors of Domestic Violence (VAWA), Crime Victims (Visa U, SIJS). It does NOT apply when lawful permanent residents (green card holders) apply for U.S. citizenship.

Current Public Charge Rule

Immigration officials take into consideration an applicant’s Age, Health, Family status, Financial status, Education and skills, Affidavit of support and whether the applicant has received Cash assistance for income maintenance (i.e. SSI, general assistance) or have they been institutionalized for long-term care.

What change does the Trump administration want to implement?

The Trump administration wants to change the current public charge rule to harm immigrants through an agency rule change process. This process requires the government to accept and review public comment for 60 days before proceeding with the rule change.

The proposed new Public Charge rule would:

• Define “public charge” as an immigrant who receives one or more public benefits.
• Implement a new question to determine Public Charge: “will the applicant in the future likely be dependent upon one or more of the public benefits on the new list?”
• Define a “public benefit” for Public Charge purposes as:
  • Non-emergency medicaid, SNAP (food stamps), Medicare Part D Low Income Subsidy, Housing Assistance (public housing or Section 8 housing vouchers and rental assistance)
    • No other public services or benefits (like WIC, EITC, Disaster Relief etc.) would count against an individual for public charge purposes
  • Expand the consideration of Public Charge to individuals within the country who seek to adjust their visa status
  • Weigh positive and negative factors in the following categories: ✓Age ✓Health ✓Family status ✓Financial status ✓Education and skills ✓Affidavit of support
    • Age: Being under 18 or over 61 would be considered a negative factor
    • Health: Medical conditions that will likely interfere with ability to work and require extensive medical treatment or institutionalization will be considered a negative factor
    • Financial Status: Receiving one or more public benefits will be heavily weighted as a negative factor. Earning less than 125% of the Federal Poverty Guideline would be considered a negative factor.
    • Education and skills: Not having a high school or higher education would be a negative factor.
  • The receipt of public benefits by U.S. citizen children (or any child) will not directly be a factor in a parents’ public charge test. ● If a child is an immigrant, his/her/their own use of benefits counts toward his/her/their own public charge determination.
  • These changes will NOT impact Refugees, Asylees, Survivors of Domestic Violence (VAWA), Crime Victims (Visa U, SIJS), or lawful permanent residents (those who have a green card) when applying for citizenship.

When will the Public Charge rule change occur?

These rule changes are only a proposal. The government is required to submit possible rule changes to the public and allow comments for 60 days. The administration submitted the rule on October 10 and the public has until December 10 to submit their comment. The new rule will only be implemented until the government reviews the comments and publishes the final law

Stop the attack: Submit your comment against these proposed changes!

1. Go to protectingimmigrantfamilies.org
2. Write your comment against the change in your own words. Explain how you, your loved ones, or your community would be impacted and why you disagree with the change. Each comment must be UNIQUE to count as a new comment.
3. You only need to include your name, email, and zip code!

Points you can include in your comment:

• This change favors the wealthy. Our ability to call the US home with our families shouldn’t be based on how much we have.
• This change would force immigrants to choose between their health, housing, and food assistance and keeping their families together
• We are all better off when our neighbors get enough food to eat, the healthcare they need, and safe housing.
• This rule change would disproportionately impact the most vulnerable people in our community, including people with disabilities, children, older adults, and families who are struggling financially.
• This rule would disproportionately impact immigrants of  color
• If implemented, this rule could harm families for generations
• This proposed regulation will have devastating consequences for all members of an immigrant family, regardless of whether some are citizens or not: We’ve already seen families un-enroll from vital programs out of fear that participation will harm their family’s chance at a permanent future here.

Este testimonio fue preparado para una conferencia de prensa sobre el maltrato medico en los centros de detencion de imigracion, especificamente en el centro GEO de Aurora.

Por favor apoye la recaudacion de fondos para los hijos de Guadalupe quien se quedaron sin sus padres gracias a la deportacion. 

*Continues in English*

Guadalupe Salas

Mi nombre es Guadalupe Salas. En mayo yo y mi esposo Joel fuimos detenidos y deportados. Era el cumpleanyos de mi hija mayor Nereida, y mi esposo me dijo vamos a comprarle un café a la niña y después la llevamos a cenar. Estábamos en Starbucks cercas de su trabajo recogiendo su cafe. Habían dos agentes de inmigración, uno estaba adentro y otro afuera con ropa de civil. Cuando yo venía entrando a mi carro me pararon los agentes y me dijeron – “eres Guadalupe Salas? Sabemos que tienes orden de deportacion.” Solo me buscaban a mi pero empezaron a hacerle preguntas a mi esposo. Nos agarraron, nos esposaron, y nos llevaron a centennial para documentar el caso y luego nos separaron y nos llevaron a GEO.

Esto fue en Mayo cuando estuve en el centro de detención GEO en Aurora por 3 semanas antes de ser deportada. El centro es muy injusto.

A mi me tuvieron con un dolor de muela por una semana. Me dolía tanto. El dolor era tan fuerte que me dolía la cabeza, todo el cerebro. No podía comer más que unas cucharadas toda la semana, ni un pan. Tenemos que estar mandando un papel pidiendo ayuda médica – pero parece que ese papel a la oficina nunca llega. Tenemos que seguir mandando estos papeles todo el tiempo porque no nos hacen caso. Los mismos que estamos allí nos tenemos que ayudar. Hable con una señora que había estado allí por un año y ella tenía una pastilla para el dolor que había guardado por una emergencia.

En esas tres semanas hubo una situación muy dura, que me dio entender que si no insistes, alli te vas a morir y ellos no les importa.

Un dia, a la hora de cenar una muchacha indígena de Honduras que hablan otro dialecto se quedó en su celda y no salio, se quedo desmayada en el piso y nadie fue a ver que tenía por horas. La muchacha estaba casi muerta. No les importo, no la atendieron hasta el siguiente dia, y aun asi solo le dieron una pastilla para dolor. Ya nunca la volvieron a checar. Nunca entró un doctor o una enfermera para ver cómo seguía. Solo las compañeras se encargaban de darle de comer.  No me imagina lo que se sentía no poder hablar ni español ni menos el inglés y poder pedir ayuda y poder insistir. Yo pense, aqui te mueres y no te atienden.

Los congresistas y la comunidad deben entender que injustos son en los centros de detención. En mi caso, en el caso de la muchacha, y en este caso de la epidemia de Varicela en GEO está bien claro que no les importa la salud de las personas. El Congreso tiene que hacer algo para proteger los derechos de las personas.

____________________________________________________________________________

This testimony was written for a press conference on medical mistreatment in detention centers as a whole and specifically at the GEO detention center in Aurora.

Please support the fundraiser for Guadalupe’s children who lost both their parents thanks to deportation. 

Guadalupe Salas

My name is Guadalupe Salas. In May, I and my husband Joel were detained and deported. It was my eldest daughter Nereida’s birthday, and my husband told me that we should pick up a coffee for our little girl in the morning and then take her to dinner at night. So we went to the Starbucks near her work to pick up her birthday coffee. There were two immigration agents, one inside and one outside in plain clothes. As I was getting into my car, the agents stopped me and asked – “are you Guadalupe Salas? We know you have a deportation order.” They were just looking for me but they started asking my husband questions. They grabbed us, handcuffed us, and took us to the centennial to document the case and then separated us and took us to GEO.

This was in May when I was in the GEO detention center in Aurora for 3 weeks before being deported. The center is very unfair.

They had me with a toothache for a week. It hurt so much. The pain was so strong that my head hurt. I could not eat more than a few bites all week, not even a bite of bread. In order to get medical assistance, we have to send notes asking for medical help – but it seems those notes never make it to the office they need to. We have to keep sending these notes all the time because they do not pay attention to us. All of us who are in there have to help each other. I finally talked with to a lady who had been there for a year and she had a pain pill she had saved for an emergency that she gave me.

In those three weeks there was a very hard situation, which made me to understand that if you do not insist and advocate for yourself, you can die there and they do not care.

One day, at dinner time, an indigenous girl from Honduras who speaks another dialect stayed in her cell and did not go out. She fell unconscious on the floor for hours she stayed there because nobody went to see her. The girl was almost dead. They did not care, they did not take care of her until the next day, and even then they only gave her a pill for pain. They never checked it again. A doctor or a nurse never came in to see how she was doing. Only the other women in there cared and decided to feed her to ensure she ate. I can not imagine what it felt like not being able to speak Spanish much less English and not be able to ask for help and make sure you got it. I thought, you could die here and they could care less.

Congress and the community must understand how unfair they are in detention centers. In my case, in the case of the girl, and in this case of the Varicella epidemic in GEO it is very clear that they do not care about people’s health. Congress has to do something to protect people who are in detention.

URGENT Action Alert: Keep the Citizenship Question off the Census!

In an effort to erase and under-count undocumented Americans and mixed status families, the racist administration is attempting to add a Citizenship question to the 2020 US Census. This could have disastrous impacts for the country as a whole and especially on states like Colorado that will lose vital funding and representation. Last year, Colorado had the 8th fastest growing population in the country. If the next census is to accurately reflect the enormous population growth of over 75,000 residents just in the past year, the census must be accessible to all residents regardless of citizenship status. Learn more about what the census is for and why it’s important here.

TAKE ACTION

Take 2 minutes to complete this easy form to submit your public comment against the addition of a Citizenship question on the US Census. Learn more about the question and who can submit public comment at the resource page.

The deadline to submit public comment is August 7th.

ALERTA DE ACCIÓN URGENTE: ¡Mantenga la pregunta de ciudadanía fuera del censo!

En un esfuerzo por borrar y subestimar a los estadounidenses indocumentados y las familias de estatus mixto, la administración racista está tratando de agregar una pregunta de ciudadanía al Censo del año 2020. Esto podría tener un impacto desastroso para el país en general y especialmente en estados como Colorado que perderán fondos y representación vital. El año pasado, Colorado tuvo la octava población de más rápido crecimiento en el país. Si el próximo censo realmente va a reflejar con precisión el enorme crecimiento de la población de más de 75,000 residentes en el último año, el censo debe ser accesible para todos los residentes sin importar su estado de ciudadanía. Aprenda mas sobre como trabaja el censo y porque es importante aqui.

TOME ACCIÓN

Tóme 2 minutos para completar este sencillo formulario para enviar su comentario público en contra de la adición de una pregunta de ciudadanía en el censo del 2020. Obtenga más información sobre la pregunta y quién puede enviar comentarios públicos en la página de recursos.

La fecha límite para enviar comentarios públicos es el 7 de agosto.

 *Seguido en español*

This week we write to you all with a heavy heart, with anger, and sadness because of the violence and hate our immigrant community is facing. But this anger also fuels and energizes us to continue our fight for immigrant rights, a fight we started back in 1996 when one of our legacy organizations started here in Colorado.

At COPA we have been busy fighting to ensure our elected officials not only listen and bear witness to the horrors at child detention centers but also take action to stop the inhumane treatment of our immigrant siblings.

On June 15th we went to Yuma, Colorado to put pressure on Senator Gardner to act on immigration. On the 6th anniversary of DACA we took to the streets of Senator Gardner’s neighborhood to demand that he protect immigrants facing trauma and separation here in Colorado and at the border. Our leaders Eduardo, Renato and Amado shared their stories and demanded that Senator Gardner commit to defund #ICE and #CBP, that he demand an end to Forced Separation and that he do more to pass a clean DREAM Act. They spoke their truth in spite of intimidation by Senator Gardner’s family and law enforcement, and we delivered a letter to his door with our demands and a Scorecard he can complete to tell his constituents where he is on immigration issues. Watch the action here.

And on June 23 we joined our national affiliate People’s Action and others at the border for an action outside of the Ursula Border Patrol Processing Center, a building that can hold up to 1,000 Children to demand a stop to the forceful separation of families and the incarceration of children and babies. Watch the action here.

We’re clear that the current crisis at the border must end, but that immigrant families will not be safe until we abolish the agencies that perpetuate violence and abuse, and we win comprehensive reform that protects all immigrants.

That’s why we will keep fighting to end the inhumane immigration policies and practices and we will not settle for bandaids that are sold to us as solutions, like the president’s latest executive order addressing the forced separation policy he created. This executive order will now mean that families with young children will be jailed indefinitely in family detention centers and the executive order does nothing to reunite the children that have already been separated. The administration’s Zero Tolerance policy, which leads to the criminalization of seeking asylum and of migration, remains in place.

If you’re committed to continuing to fight back against the Trump Administration’s Zero Tolerance policy, against the abuses perpetrated on immigrant families through deportation and detention, join us and take action.

1. Join us at an action we are co-leading with immigrant leaders and our allies this Saturday at Civic Center Park.

What: Denver Families Belong Together Rally

When: Saturday June 30th, 10am-12pm

Where: Denver Civic Center Park, 101 W 14th Ave, Denver, CO  80204 at the corner of Bannock and Colfax

2. Make a donation and help us continue our work for immigrant justice by going here. This week our organizer Ana and her 11 year old sister Gabby will be joining other families and immigrant rights organizers to participate in an action outside of the White House to fight to keep families together and out of detention. Your donation will help us get Ana and Gabby to Washington and it will help us continue to advocate for immigrant rights.

3. Call your elected representatives and demand that they act immediately to keep families together by calling (202) 224-3121 to reach your Congresspeople. Find contact information for the rest of your elected officials here.

We need you. In this critical moment we need all of our community to act and take a stand in support of our immigrant families. We hope you will support our work by joining us this saturday and by making a contribution so we can continue this critical work. If you want to get more involved in our work for immigrant justice please contact either Ana at ana@coloradopeoplesalliance.org or Feven at feven@coloradopeoplesalliance.org.

In solidarity,

Lizeth Chacon

Executive Director

Luchando para mantener a las Familias Juntas – ¡Únase!

Esta semana les escribimos a todos con un corazón pesado, con coraje y tristeza debido a la violencia y el odio que enfrenta nuestra comunidad de inmigrantes. Pero este coraje también nos impulsa y energiza para continuar nuestra lucha por los derechos de los inmigrantes, una lucha que comenzamos en 1996 cuando una de nuestras organizaciones de legado comenzó aquí en Colorado.

En COPA hemos estado ocupados luchando para asegurarnos de que nuestros funcionarios electos no solo escuchen y vean los horrores en los centros de detención para niños, sino que también tomen medidas para detener el trato inhumano de nuestros hermanos inmigrantes.
El 15 de junio fuimos a Yuma, Colorado para presionar al senador Gardner para que tome acción sobre  inmigración. En el sexto aniversario de DACA, salimos a las calles del vecindario del senador Gardner para exigir que proteja a los inmigrantes que enfrentan traumas y separación aquí en Colorado y en la frontera. Nuestros líderes Eduardo, Renato y Amado compartieron sus historias y exigieron que el Senador Gardner se comprometa a abolir y dejar de financiar a ICE y la patrulla fronteriza, que exija el fin de la Separación Forzada y que haga más para aprobar una Ley del Sueño limpia. Dijeron su verdad a pesar de la intimidación de la familia  del Senador Gardner y la policía, y entregamos una carta a su puerta con nuestras demandas y una Tarjeta de Puntaje que puede completar para decirle a sus electores dónde se encuentra en temas de inmigración. Vea la acción aquí.
Y el 23 de junio nos unimos a nuestro afiliado national People’s Action y otros en la frontera para una acción fuera del Ursula Border Patrol Processing Center, un edificio que puede albergar hasta 1,000 niños, para exigir un alto a la separación forzada de familias y el encarcelamiento de niños y bebés. Vea la acción aquí.

Tenemos claro que la crisis en la frontera debe terminar, pero que las familias inmigrantes no estarán a salvo hasta que eliminemos las agencias de inmigración que perpetúan la violencia y el abuso, y ganamos una reforma migratoria que proteja a todos los inmigrantes.

Es por eso que seguiremos luchando para poner fin a las políticas y prácticas de inmigración inhumanas y no nos conformaremos con las curitas que se nos venden como soluciones, como la última orden ejecutiva del presidente que aborda la política de separación forzada que él creó. Esta orden ejecutiva ahora significará que las familias con niños pequeños serán encarceladas indefinidamente en centros de detención familiar y la orden ejecutiva no hace nada para reunir a los niños que ya han sido separados. La política de Cero Tolerancia de la administración, que criminaliza el acto de buscar asilo y de migración, sigue vigente.

Si está comprometidx a seguir luchando contra la política de Cero Tolerancia de la Administración Trump, contra los abusos perpetrados contra familias inmigrantes a través de la deportación y la detención, únase a nosotros y tome acción.

1. Únase a nosotros en una acción que estamos liderando con nuestros aliados que será este sábado en el Civic Center Park.
Qué: Manifestación en Denver afirmando que las familias merecen permanecer unidas

Cuándo: El sábado 30 de junio, de 10 a.m. a 12 p.m.
Dónde: Denver Civic Center Park, 101 W 14th Ave, Denver, CO 80204 en la esquina de Bannock y Colfax

2. Haga una donación y ayúdenos a continuar nuestro trabajo luchando por la justicia para los  inmigrantes yendo aquí. Esta semana, nuestra organizadora Ana y su hermana de 11 años, Gabby, se unirán a otras familias y organizadores de derechos de inmigrantes para participar en una acción fuera de la Casa Blanca para luchar por mantener a las familias unidas y fuera de detención. Su donación nos ayudará a llevar a Ana y Gabby a Washington y nos ayudará a continuar abogando por los derechos de los inmigrantes.

3. Llame a sus representantes electos y exija que actúen inmediatamente para mantener a las familias unidas llamando al (202) 224-3121 para comunicarse con sus congresistas. Encuentre información de contacto para el resto de sus funcionarios electos aquí.

Los necesitamos. En este momento crítico, necesitamos que toda nuestra comunidad actúe y tome una posición en apoyo de nuestras familias inmigrantes. Esperamos que apoyen nuestro trabajo uniéndose a nosotros este sábado y haciendo una contribución para que podamos continuar con este trabajo crítico. Si desea involucrarse más en nuestro trabajo para la justicia de inmigrantes, contáctese con Ana en ana@coloradopeoplesalliance.org o Feven en feven@coloradopeoplesalliance.org.

En Solidaridad,
Lizeth Chacon

Directora Ejecutiva

Content Warning: Child abuse

*Continua en Esp*

In the past few weeks, we have seen gut-wrenching reports on the abuses immigrant children face at the hands of immigration enforcement agents in detention facilities. We have seen and heard about babies being torn from their mothers’ arms because of the new Forced Separation policy, and children in cages sleeping on the floor in detention “shelters.”

What these heartbreaking reports, pictures, and videos show is child abuse perpetrated by the state. We must continue to demand an end to the Trump Administration’s new Forced Separation policy that rips children from their mothers’ arms, and ships them off to cages across the country alone. And since no immigrant has a right to a court-appointed immigration attorney (even if they are in diapers), taking them from their parents also strips them of their last shred of hope when facing an immigration judge. This policy is not just cruel; according to the United Nations, it’s illegal.

We must continue to demand absolute transparency and accountability of the immigration enforcement agencies (Immigration and Customs Enforcement [ICE] and Customs and Border Patrol [CBP]) that have perpetuated abuse on immigrant families as they rip families apart at the border or across the country, in detention facilities, or in detention “shelters.” We must demand an end to the horrors LGBTQ immigrants face at the hands of the state. We must demand the absolute transparency and accountability of privately run detention facilities like GEO where immigrants are being abused with government funds.

However, we will not stop this state run abuse until we abolish ICE and CBP. We must begin by demanding that Congress not give a single cent to ICE, CBP, and the deportation machine that is perpetuating trauma and abuse on immigrant families seeking safety. As the recent articles and images that surfaced of children facing violence and threats of sexual assault in detention centers under the last administration prove, these abuses will happen regardless of who is in office as long as these immoral immigration enforcement agencies exist.

Tell your Congressperson that there is no humane detention center. There is no humane way of tearing families apart. Tell them to defund ICE and CBP.

Para Proteger a los Inmigrantes: Abolir ICE y el CBP

En las últimas semanas, hemos visto informes desgarradores sobre los abusos de niños inmigrantes a manos de agentes de inmigración en centros de detención. Hemos visto y escuchado sobre bebés que fueron arrancados de los brazos de sus madres debido a la nueva política de Separación Forzada, y niños en jaulas que duermen en el piso en “refugios” de detención.

Lo que estos informes, fotos y videos desgarradores muestran es el abuso infantil perpetrado por el estado. Debemos continuar exigiendo el fin de la nueva política de Separación Forzada de la Administración Trump que arranca a los niños de los brazos de sus madres y los envía a jaulas en todo el país. Y dado que ningún inmigrante tiene derecho a un abogado de inmigración designado por la corte (aun si están en pañales), separarlos de sus padres también les quita la última esperanza cuando se enfrentan a un juez de inmigración. Esta política no es sólo cruel; según las Naciones Unidas, es ilegal.

Debemos continuar exigiendo absoluta transparencia y rendición de cuentas de las agencias de inmigración, incluyendo a Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE por sus siglas en inglés) y la Patrulla Fronteriza (CBP por sus siglas en inglés) que han perpetrado el abuso en las familias inmigrantes al separar familias en la frontera o dentro del país, en centros de detención o en “refugios” de detención. Debemos exigir el fin de los horrores que los inmigrantes LGBTQ enfrentan en manos del estado. Debemos exigir la transparencia absoluta y la rendición de cuentas de los centros de detención administrados de forma privada, como GEO, donde se maltrata a los inmigrantes con fondos del gobierno.

Sin embargo, no detendremos este abuso estatal hasta que eliminemos a las agencias de ICE y CBP. Debemos comenzar con exigir que el Congreso no otorgue ni un centavo a ICE, CBP y la máquina de deportación que perpetúa el trauma y el abuso en las familias inmigrantes que buscan seguridad. Como hemos visto en los artículos e imágenes reportando abuso physico y amenazas de abuso sexual en los centros de detención bajo la previa administración, estos abusos ocurrirán independientemente de quién sea presidente, siempre y cuando existan estas agencias de inmigración inmigración inmorales.

Dígale a su congresista que no hay un centro de detención humanitario. No hay una forma humana de destrozar a las familias. Dígales que dejen de dar fondos a ICE y CBP.