More than 40 House Democrats are asking Vice President Mike Pence to reconsider enforcement of the “public charge” rule due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.
The Democrats made their comments in a letter sent to Pence this week, according to The Hill.
The letter was spearheaded by Rep. Norma Torres, D-Calif., who said the rule allows immigration officers to assess whether immigrants seeking lawful permanent residence are a “pubic charge” based on whether they have used government benefits, like government health insurance. She claimed the rule acts as a deterrent for seeking medical testing or treatment.
Torres said the rule could make those immigrants showing symptoms, reluctant to seek government-funded medical assistance and increase the spread of the virus.
“Everyone should have access to testing and treatment for coronavirus.,” the Democrats say in the letter. “The 'public charge' rule, however, is a deterrent for symptomatic individuals to seek medical testing and treatment. Individuals infected with coronavirus who are left untested and untreated will risk spreading the disease in our communities, potentially furthering the spread of coronavirus in the United States.”
The White House did not send an official response to the letter, The Hill reported.
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