Washington D.C., Aug 13, 2019 / 14:01 pm
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has voiced opposition to a new "public charge" policy that could deny visas and green cards to immigrants who use, or are deemed likely to use, various public welfare programs such as food stamps, Medicaid, or housing assistance.
The rule was announced on August 12 and is expected to be formalized on Wednesday when it is published in the Federal Register.
"Ultimately, we believe that this rule is in tension with the dignity of the person and the common good that all of us are called to support," said Bishops Joe S. Vasquez of Austin and Frank J. Dewane of Venice (FL) in a statement released by the USCCB website Tuesday.
Vasquez is the chair of the USCCB Committee on Migration, and Dewane leads the USCCB Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development.