ANTI-HUNGER ADVOCATES HAIL RULES CLARIFICATION; ADMINISTRATION'S ACTION WILL HELP ENSURE NEEDY LEGAL IMMIGRANTS GET VITAL NUTRITION AND HEALTH BENEFITS

"We applaud the Clinton Administration for clarifying the rules allowing eligible legal immigrants to obtain nutrition program and other public benefits without negative immigration consequences," said Food Research and Action Center President Jim Weill. "This action will help to ensure that many eligible families in need access the WIC, food stamp, school lunch and school breakfast benefits that help their children grow and get ready to learn."

Studies by the Urban Institute and reports from immigrant advocates, anti-hunger groups, and emergency food providers have suggested that many needy legal immigrants were foregoing vital safety net services because they feared using those services could threaten their immigration status. Specifically, many were concerned that use of food stamps, WIC or other benefits could lead to a possible "public charge" determination, not only harming their status but even leading to deportation. In the absence of clear, national policy guidance, social service providers and community leaders were left unable to reassure immigrants about the consequences of obtaining benefits in any particular case.

The result was widespread hunger and food insecurity. Hunger and food insecurity affect millions of people in this country, most of them citizens but a significant proportion legal immigrants. According to the Census Bureau, one in six children in the U.S. has an immigrant parent. Between summer 1994 and summer 1997, USDA reports, the rate at which children received food stamps dropped two and half times faster if they resided with an immigrant parent than a U.S. born parent.

"Nutrition programs like food stamps should be available to help everyone stave off hunger. Because they are supplemental help for families, many of them with working parents, receipt of food stamps is not an indicator that a recipient is a public charge," explained Weill, "The Administration has drawn a clear and sensible line that the public, immigrant families, and service providers can understand and follow."

FRAC called on local, state and federal officials to join non-profits in outreach campaigns to legal immigrants eligible for nutrition programs. "The confusion over 'public charge' has contributed to the dramatic decline in food stamp use, and the resulting increase in hunger," said Weill. "Public officials will have to act pro- actively and sensitively to get food stamps and other benefits to the many hungry, eligible legal immigrants who have been scared off by years of confusion and mixed signals in these critical programs."

Click here to link to USDA's "Nutrition Benefits and Public Charge: Effect on Immigration Status," which provides links to the following postings: White House Press Release, INS Fact Sheet, Questions and Answers on Public Charge, INS' Regulation and Field Guidance on Public Charge, State Department's Cable on Public Charge, FNS Letters to State Commissioners/State Agencies (Food Stamps, WIC, Child Nutrition, and Food Distribution), and links to other agency home pages (White House, INS, HHS, Social Security Administration).