By Brooklynn Wong
National political issues have come to Anaheim. A robust immigration debate, and discussion of whether such a topic is even something that falls under the purview of a City Council, was had at Anaheim City Hall last Tuesday.
The “public charge test” is a federal policy that has been used for years to assess how much of a financial burden on the state an individual seeking citizenship will be. Until recently, this has been based on just two factors: how much cash assistance for income maintenance the individual is likely to seek, and whether they will need institutionalization for long-term care at the government’s expense. If the individual is determined to be too much of a risk or burden on the federal government, it is the government’s prerogative to choose to deny the individual a visa or the status of a legal permanent resident.
On August 14, the Department of Homeland Security published a rule change that expanded the definition of what constitutes a “public charge.”
Local Democratic politicians have expressed disdain for this change and have sent representatives to various cities’ Council Meetings to encourage them to support them in pushing back against the federal government.
Anaheim Councilman Jose Moreno requested that the City Council consider, as it was put on the agenda, “opposing the Department of Homeland Security’s public charge rule change as applied to legal permanent residency applications.”
Moreno expounded on his motives, describing Anaheim as one of California’s biggest immigrant cities, and saying he wants to “stand with our citizens and stand up to our president.”
Mayor Harry Sidhu said although he himself immigrated to the country 45 years ago and is serving as Anaheim’s first Mayor of color, he does not support Moreno’s motion and would be abstaining from a vote. He also said he does not know whether an item like this falls under City Council purview.
Mayor Pro Tem Lucille Kring likewise did not support Moreno and spoke more generally about how people have been critical of the current administration’s cracking down on immigration, though many policies are remnants from previous administrations.
In the case of “public charge,” Kring said, “Clinton started this.”
“Our congressman has asked us to chime in,” Moreno said. He urged the Council to vote to establish their position on this to “further embolden the congressman.”
But in the end, the motion failed by a vote of 3-2-2.
