In early October, President Trump signed a proclamation ordering immigrants to the United States to prove that they can pay for their own health insurance and medical care if they want to be granted visas. This proclamation was part of a holistic approach to U.S. legal immigration, aimed at cutting down on the number of migrants who wind up becoming “public charges” – migrants who come to this country only to go on the government dole.
It was no surprise whatsoever when a nonprofit organization filed suit against the rule, and it wasn’t much surprise when a federal judge in Portland put a temporary restraining order against it on Saturday, hours before it would have gone into effect. Not because it’s a bad rule, mind you, but because – as we’ve seen over and over again in the Trump era – federal courts are determined to block nearly everything this president tries to do for the betterment of the nation.
But in this case, we have the rare instance where the plaintiffs themselves explain exactly why it’s so necessary for this rule to go forward.
“We’re very grateful that the court recognized the need to block the health care ban immediately,” said Justice Action Center lawyer Esther Sung. “The ban would separate families and cut two-thirds of green-card-based immigration starting tonight, were the ban not stopped.”
Um…exactly! Sung is admitting that two-thirds of Green card immigrants are coming to this country without any means to properly care for themselves. That’s frankly worse than we could have imagined. Sung’s statement shows why it’s essential that we get this situation under control immediately; U.S. taxpayers should not be asked to subsidize migrants who can’t pay for their own health insurance or medical care. To think otherwise is to admit that we’re willing to let our nation be bled dry by half the world’s population. Does that really reflect the spirit of the poem at the base of the Statue of Liberty? “Come to America and take a free ride on the taxpayers’ dime!” Come on.
Now, we get why people would be upset if this rule would result in the immediate deportation of people who were already in this country legally, living their lives, and putting down roots. We might understand why Judge Michael Simon would feel the need to put a temporary injunction on it until the lawsuit is settled.
But this ONLY applies to immigrants currently living overseas! It applies only to people…who haven’t even come to America yet! It’s idiotic to think that any permanent damage can be done or to wax horrified about “separated families.”
This rule is perfectly legal, perfectly fair, and is perfectly in line with common sense. It should be allowed to go into effect immediately, if not sooner.
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