The California WIC Association strongly condemns the Trump Administration’s newly released public charge rule, which once again injects fear and uncertainty into immigrant communities by removing clear guidance on how the use of public benefits may affect immigration decisions. We are especially alarmed by the rule’s expansion of public charge considerations to allow immigration officials to consider the use of means-tested public benefits by an applicant’s family members, including children and spouses. This unprecedented change threatens to discourage entire families from accessing essential nutrition and health services—even when those family members are fully eligible for assistance.
Families rely on accurate information to make decisions about accessing essential nutrition and health services. By rescinding existing guidance without replacing it with clear standards, and by expanding the scope of public charge determinations to include family members’ participation in programs like WIC, the administration is creating confusion that will discourage eligible families from seeking the care and nutrition they need—not because they are ineligible, but because they are afraid. We have seen this before, and we know exactly what happens.
Research documenting the impact of previous public charge policies found that the mere threat of immigration consequences created a widespread “chilling effect,” causing eligible immigrant families—including families with U.S. citizen children—to avoid or withdraw from critical programs such as Medicaid, CHIP, SNAP, and WIC. Foregoing critical health care and nutrition support lead to measurably poorer health outcomes for mothers and babies.
California is home to millions of immigrant families, many of whom include U.S. citizen children who depend on programs like WIC to access healthy foods, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and referrals to health care. Under this new rule, families may fear that enrolling a child or other household member in WIC or another means-tested program could be used against a loved one’s immigration application. These children should never become collateral damage in immigration policy.
The California WIC Association stands with immigrant families and our partners across California in affirming that every eligible family deserves access to nutrition and health services without fear. We remain committed to providing accurate information, supporting local WIC agencies, and ensuring that families understand their rights and can make informed decisions based on facts—not fear.
We urge the Trump Administration to reverse this harmful policy, eliminate provisions that penalize families for accessing lawful nutrition and health programs, and restore clear, evidence-based guidance that protects the health of children and families. We also call on California leaders, health care providers, and community organizations to continue supporting immigrant families, combat misinformation, and ensure that every eligible parent and child can access WIC and other essential nutrition and health programs.