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Column: What the new public charge rule means for millions of immigrants
When I joined the Michigan League for Public Policy three years ago, one of the first topics I dove into was the “public charge” regulation and the work of the Protecting Immigrant Families – Michigan (PIF-MI) campaign. A few weeks before my start date, the Trump administration published its final rule on public charge on […]
Column: We need to advocate for immigrant-inclusive policies that have a year-round impact
June is Immigrant Heritage Month, which recognizes the experiences, achievements, and contributions — economic and cultural — of immigrants across the country. Our state’s immigrant communities are full of nearly 700,000 Michiganders who moved to a new country with courage and resolve, work hard for their families and help make Michigan a place we all […]
Column: Here’s a proven, immigrant-inclusive policy so more kids have health insurance
Michigan continues to be a national leader in the percentage of kids with health insurance. The most recent Kids Count data found that 97% of kids are insured in the state compared to 94% nationally. This is due in large part to policy decisions that expand eligibility and improve health care access and affordability, especially […]
Column: Here’s what we can do to support Michigan immigrants and benefit all counties
Despite rhetoric that attempts to divide us, no matter where we were born, what our color, or how we worship, most of us work hard for our families. It also shouldn’t matter how we got here, as many people with the courage and tenacity to move to a new country, in many cases to make […]
Column: We must protect immigrant families in Biden’s 1st 100 days and beyond
Although we all are probably sick of Zoom, it’s worth noting how virtual platforms have made “getting together” over the course of a pandemic as easy as clicking a link. Of course, it is still difficult and strange to not be able to see colleagues in person, or to have kids, pets, roommates and partners […]
Column: Undocumented residents shouldn’t be left out of Michigan tax policy
Tax returns were due this week after being postponed four months. But while we all have to pay the “taxman,” I want to talk about some taxpayers that many people don’t know about. Undocumented residents make significant tax contributions (including to our country’s entitlement funds like Social Security and Medicare), and many of them use […]
Column: How Medicaid changes can us get through COVID-19, fiscal crises
In our high school social studies classes, one core topic is federalism — the shared authority between states and the federal government. This relationship has implications for state-level public policy any day of the week, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been on full display as the patchwork of stay-home orders and administrative regulations […]
Column: Driver licenses for all: An inclusive policy to drive Michigan forward
We know how much the roads matter in Michigan. But how often do we think about sidewalks? It may seem out of place to be talking about sidewalks in a column about driver licenses, the drivers who have them, our cars and our roads. But one particular component of a sidewalk (or should I say, […]
Column: Trump admin issues new crackdown on immigrants with health insurance mandate
On Oct. 4, the President Trump administration issued a proclamation targeting the health insurance market and legal immigration into the United States. The impact of this action on all health care consumers – immigrants and citizens alike — could be far-reaching. The recent executive action by the administration leverages the same authority the president used […]