The 2016 Presidential Election, the Public Charge Rule, and Food and Nutrition Assistance Among Immigrant Households

Bibliographic Data

ID11036459
AuthorsDaniel P Miller (0000-0002-1455-2805, All authors are with the School of Social Work, Boston University, Boston, MA.), Rachel John (0000-0001-6716-6134, Boston University), Rachel S John (All authors are with the School of Social Work, Boston University, Boston, MA.), Mengni Yao (0000-0002-4553-3180, All authors are with the School of Social Work, Boston University, Boston, MA.), Melanie Morris (0000-0003-3819-8107, All authors are with the School of Social Work, Boston University, Boston, MA.)
Year2022
Volume112
Issue12
Pages1738-1746
Publication date2022-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-0036 • E-ISSN: 1541-0048
PublisherAmerican Public Health Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2105/ajph.2022.307011
PMID36383934
OpenAlexW4309319962
LanguageEN
Citations received10
References cited15

Objectives. To investigate whether the 2016 US presidential election and the subsequent leak of a proposed change to the public charge rule reduced immigrant families’ participation in food and nutrition assistance programs. Methods. We used nationally representative data on n = 57 808 households in the United States from the 2015–2018 Current Population Survey–Food Security Supplement. We implemented difference-in-difference-in-difference analyses to investigate whether the election and proposed rule change produced decreases in immigrant families’ participation in food and nutrition assistance programs and whether such decreases varied according to state policy generosity toward immigrants. Results. Findings indicate significant and large decreases in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, School Breakfast Program, and National School Lunch Program participation among immigrants in moderately generous states but no changes to receipt of food assistance from nongovernmental sources or to household food insecurity. Conclusions. Both anti-immigrant rhetoric and the perceived threat of policy enactment can be enough to produce chilling effects that have potentially serious implications for the health of immigrant households and thus the health of the nation. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(12):1738–1746. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.307011 )

Business · Current Population Survey · Demographic economics · Economic growth · Economics · Environmental health · Food insecurity · Food security · Geography · Immigration · Political science · Politics · Population · Presidential election · Public health · Receipt · Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Homelessness and Social Issues · Law · Medicine

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