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4.3.4 Public Charge Public charge determinations are part of longstanding immigration policy that can impact a non-U.S. citizen’s ability to gain entry to the U.S or obtain lawful permanent resident (LPR) status (get a green card). A public charge is someone who the government believes is likely to rely on cash assistance or government-funded institutionalization for long-term care to survive. Many non-U.S. citizens are exempt from public charge determinations. These include LPRs, also known as green card holders (unless they travel outside the U.S. for six months or more), asylees, refugees, special immigrant juveniles, survivors of trafficking, and other protected groups. For non-U.S. citizens who are subject to public charge determinations, enrolling in BadgerCare Plus does not make them a public charge. The only category of BadgerCare Plus services considered in public charge determinations is long-term institutionalization paid for by Medicaid. The following institutionalization situations are not considered in public charge determinations: • Short-term institutionalization for rehabilitative purposes • Sporadic or intermittent periods of institutionalization, even on a recurring basis. No services provided under the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are considered in public charge determinations. 4.3.5 Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) Reporting BadgerCare Plus member information cannot be shared by Income Maintenance or Tribal Agencies for immigration enforcement purposes. Do not refer an immigrant to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is required to share information with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 4.3.6 Undocumented Non-Citizens In cases in which it is known that the applicant originally arrived in the U.S. in undocumented status, do not attempt to verify their status with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Undocumented immigrants do not have any official documentation regarding their date of arrival. 4.3.7 Immigration Status Chart See Process Help, Section 24.27 SAVE Responses Mapping to CARES Immigration Status Codes Chart for a list of Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlement (SAVE) Responses and the appropriate Registration Status Code in CWW to apply. CARES Registration Status Code Immigration Status Arrived Before August 22, 1996 Veteran* Arrived before August 22, 1996 Arrived on or after August 22, 1996 Veteran* Arrived on or after August 22, 1996 Children under age 19 and pregnant people; Arrived on or after August 22, 1996