The new public charge rule, which was finalized in August, was scheduled to take effect Oct. 15. Several Arizona groups have education campaigns regarding the public charge rule change due to confusion that is resulting in chilling effect among immigrant groups not covered by the new policy. The new rule also expands which government assistance programs immigration officers will consider in determining an immigrant’s likelihood of becoming a public charge. Under the new rule, the following programs will be added to the public charge test:SNAP (food stamps)MedicaidPublic housing or Section 8Rental assistanceUsing any of those public benefits constitute a “heavily weighted negative factor” in the new public charge assessment. For more information and resources on the new public charge rule visit, https://protectingimmigrantfamilies.org/