Urban Institute: Mixed-Status Families and Immigrant Families with Children Continued Avoiding Safety Net Programs in 2023

During the last two federal administrations, immigrants have experienced restrictions on access to public safety net programs. Looming especially large have been changes to public charge rule, which expanded consideration of public benefits receipt in applications for immigrant or temporary visas.

A new brief from Urban Institute experts finds that, during this period of policy change and debate, many immigrant families continued to avoid safety net programs for fear of potential immigration consequences.

KJ