​Aggressive enforcement of immigration laws, actions to reduce the number of immigrants entering the United States, and attempts to limit the legal rights of immigrants living in the U.S. have been a signature focus of the Trump Administration. A recently announced change in the rule directing how immigrants can become permanent residents in the U.S. continues the harmful and troubling changes in our nation’s immigration policies.

For California, the consequences are stark: thousands more families working to build better a better future for themselves and our state will instead live in poverty. In addition, other individuals will be denied the ability to legally enter the country if they’re not wealthy. This rule will result in a significant loss for California’s economy and workforce and cause harm for California immigrants who already fear that receiving food or health assistance may affect their ability to continue living and working in the state and country. Moreover, as this analysis will show, the new rule, coupled with previous executive actions targeting immigrants, will have ripple-effects on the health, development, and economic outcomes of generations to come.

This study cites the Center fact sheet, Proposed Changes to Immigration Rules Could Cost California Jobs, Harm Public Health.

• Sara Kimberlin
• et al