Hyattsville, MD – Gustavo Torres, executive director of immigrant advocacy organization CASA issued the following statement after Federal immigration officials again began implementing the “public charge” wealth test, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“This decision by the Trump administration to continue to push its racist and illegal “public charge” test in the midst of an ongoing pandemic is yet another demonstration of their disregard for the lives of immigrants and people of color. Imposing a wealth test on people striving to gain lawful immigration status in this country, deterring them from accessing medical care and potentially leading to the further spread of COVID-19 is both sad and reckless. We will continue to fight in court and at the ballot box to reverse this policy and realize the respect and dignity that our communities deserve.”

CASA and two of its members challenged the public charge rule when it was first enacted in 2019.  We continue to fight this case in court.

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With over 100,000 members across the states of Maryland, Virginia, and South Central Pennsylvania, CASA is the largest member-based Latino and immigrant organization in the mid-Atlantic region. CASA organizes with and litigates on behalf of low-wage immigrants. Visit us at www.wearecasa.org and follow us on Twitter at @CASAforall