Federal rules threaten to discourage undocumented immigrants from vaccinating children

Pediatricians and public health officials are worried vaccination rates among children of immigrants will fall as new and stricter rules come into effect this autumn related to the public services available to people seeking to immigrate to the United States.

In fact, a number said they have seen a decline in immigrant families using preventive health care services for their children since the Trump administration published its proposed “public charge” update last fall — even when the children are U.S. citizens and are not subject to the rule.

Under the rule, noncitizens hoping to qualify for permanent residency —also known as a green card — can be denied if authorities deem them to be a drain on public coffers. The new rule defines a public charge as any noncitizen who receives benefits from public programs for more than 12 months over a three-year period. Use of two services in