Jones Urges U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to Reject Proposed Rule

SACRAMENTO, California, Dec. 12 -- The California Department of Insurance issued the following news release:

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones sent a letter to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Department of Homeland Security Office of Policy and Strategy in response to proposed rulemaking "Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds." In part, the letter reads:

"As California's Insurance Commissioner, I lead the largest consumer protection agency in the state and am responsible for regulating California's insurance market, which is the nation's largest. The California Department of Insurance implements and enforces consumer protections such as basic health coverage requirements, anti-discrimination protections, and many laws pertaining to access to health care.

I stand with the more than 150,000 doctors, health care organizations and others in opposing the Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds proposed rule. The proposed rule is an attempt to deter immigrants from lawfully entering the country or lawfully remaining in the United States if they may need federal assistance programs to obtain essential health care, housing or food security. This proposed rule is an unnecessary, mean-spirited attempt to once again penalize underprivileged and underserved community members and it would have a long-reaching negative effect on general public health."

"California is home to more than 10 million immigrants, about a quarter of the foreign-born population nationwide. In 2016, 27% of California's population was foreign born, about twice the U.S. percentage. The majority of immigrants in California are documented residents. About half (49%) of California's immigrants are naturalized U.S. citizens, and another 26% have some other legal status (including green cards and visas). California is also one of the most expensive states in which to live, costing more than double the national average for most families. Preventing families from utilizing essential health care, as well as housing and food programs, by threatening their ability to stay in this country will have a huge negative impact on lifting families out of poverty in California."

"The proposed rule is yet another misguided attempt by this Administration to harm immigrant families. It will impose a greater financial burden on all Americans in the form of higher health care, housing and food costs. I urge you to reject this proposed rule."