Dean Johnson comments for The Bee on proposed 'public charge' immigrant rule

Dean Kevin R. Johnson spoke to The Sacramento Bee for a story about how the Trump administration’s proposed new “public charge” rule for immigrants is affecting California’s health care system.

Under the proposed rule, immigrants might be punished for using certain government benefits now legally availed to them, including Medicaid.

“The new rule would make it difficult for any temporary visitor to adjust his or her status to get a green card if he or she had lawfully or otherwise used health and other public benefits,” Johnson told The Bee. “Immigrant rights advocates fear that it will discourage all non-citizens from using public benefits, even ones they are lawfully entitled to.”

Kevin R. Johnson is dean, Mabie-Apallas Professor of Public Interest Law and professor of Chicana/o studies at UC Davis School of Law. He is an internationally recognized scholar in the fields of immigration law and policy, refugee law, and civil rights.