CPC STATEMENT ON THE FEDERAL PUBLIC CHARGE RULE

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

Date: 10/11/19

Press Contacts: Carlyn Cowen, Chief Policy and Public Affairs Officer (ccowen@cpc-nyc.org | 919-637-6866)

New York, NY -- The Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) applauds today’s news that a preliminary injunction was granted on the public charge rule. The injunction represents a significant victory in our fight to block the cruel public charge proposal. Federal judges in New York, California, and Washington ruled that changes to public charge cannot go into effect on October 15th, 2019, citing that it was unconstitutional and violated administrative procedure.=

"As the nation’s largest social services nonprofit for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, CPC has been actively fighting the public charge rule alongside our allies for the past two years because this rule would have been devastating for children and families across generations. We are grateful for the federal courts for issuing a preliminary injunction and naming the inhumanity of this proposal. CPC believes that immigrants do not have to choose between staying in this country and getting access to food, housing, and healthcare. We will continue to ensure our community members have the resources and information they need to thrive in New York City," said Wayne Ho, President & CEO of the Chinese-American Planning Council. 

CPC wants to ensure that everyone who may have been impacted understands that any green card applications submitted after October 15th will NOT be subject to the public charge test unless the injunction is reversed. People can continue to safely maintain their benefits and continue to enroll in benefits, and it will NOT impact their green card application. CPC is committed to remaining a trusted resource for information and support and will keep our community members informed. 

While this fight is far from over, and while the federal administration continues to lay attack after attack on immigrant communities, this ruling represents the kind of significant victory that can be won when our communities stand together. CPC stands in solidarity with all immigrants, regardless of status, and remains committed to fighting for policies to ensure that Chinese American, immigrant and low-income New Yorkers can survive and thrive. 

About CPC
The Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) is the nation's largest Asian American social services organization. Founded in 1965, CPC aims to promote the social and economic empowerment of Chinese American, immigrant, and low-income communities of New York City.