Care for the stranger, the hungry, the sick, and the homeless are fundamental to the mission of Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas.

Therefore, we share the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Catholic Charities USA’s concern with the proposed change to the “public charge” eligibility requirement recently published by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

If passed, the new rule will negatively affect many immigrant families who are in the country legally or seeking to come to the U.S. lawfully.

As an organization, we respect the life and dignity of all persons. We welcome and support immigrants with the goal of them becoming self-sufficient. This new rule will hinder these efforts. They will be deterred from seeking critical benefits and services that not only provide for basic needs, but have been shown to improve participants’ health, educational success and economic security. The new rule will undermine family stability. More than that, it will deny many individuals a lawful means to unify or remain with family in the U.S.

We are standing up for our immigrant families and asking the administration to withdraw its proposal and maintain its existing public charge analysis.

We encourage others to join our efforts and make a public comment by visiting: www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/advocacy/action-center/?vvsrc=%2fCampaigns%2f61752%2fRespond