FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
July 16, 2026 
CONTACT: Jack Cardinal, jcardinal@communitycatalyst.org  

“The final rule uses confusion as a weapon.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — National health justice organization Community Catalyst — a steering committee member of the Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition — issued the following statement in response to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) changes to “public charge,” which will roll back existing protections without replacing them. 

This proposal will introduce significant bias into the immigration system and cause fear among immigrant families, with consequences that will ripple through the healthcare system. When families worry that getting help could put their immigration status at risk, they may avoid health coverage, nutrition support, and other basic services that they are both entitled to and that keep communities healthy. DHS has acknowledged that this kind of chilling effect can worsen health outcomes, increase emergency room use, raise uncompensated care, and deepen poverty and housing instability.

Shaina Goodman, Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs, Community Catalyst, said: 

“The final rule uses confusion as a weapon. These policies will increase fear in immigrant communities, keep people from accessing care they qualify for, make communities sicker, and push increased costs onto everyone accessing the healthcare system.

“When people can get preventive care, manage chronic conditions, and support their families, it strengthens public health, local economies and creates more stability for all of us. Community Catalyst will continue working with immigrant justice partners to push back on harmful public charge policies and advance fairness, dignity, and health for every community.” 

###  

About Community Catalyst: 

Community Catalyst is a leading non-profit national health advocacy organization dedicated to advancing a movement for race equity and health justice. We partner with local, state and national advocates to leverage and build power so all people can influence decisions that affect their health. Health systems will not be accountable to people without a fully engaged and organized community voice. That’s why we work every day to ensure people’s interests are represented wherever important decisions about health and health care are made: in communities, state houses and on Capitol Hill. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org.