Under current law, immigrants with legal permanent resident (LPR) status must wait five years before being able to access critical supports like Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, and Supplemental Security Income. Nationally, over 1.7 million children have an LPR status parent who is still within that five year window. No child can afford to wait five years to receive critical health and nutrition assistance. Congress must act to remove the five-year bar for immigrants and their families. 

Use the one-pagers below to learn how children in immigrant families are impacted by the 5 year bar in your state. (National factsheet updated 05/11/2023)