At the end of February, the Trump administration began enforcing the “public charge” rule, after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling lifted an injunction preventing its implementation. That same week, the first death from COVID-19 – a form of coronavirus – was reported in the United States.

The public charge rule gives immigration officials the ability to deny the applications of people applying for Lawful Permanent Residence (LPR) who have or are likely to use certain public benefits – including Medicaid.

Jonnelle Rodriguez is a Licensed Social Worker at the American Friends Service Committee in New Jersey who provides case management services to immigrants in the community.