WATSONVILLE — It could soon become harder for immigrants who use services such as food stamps or Medicaid to become permanent residents under new rules proposed Wednesday by the Trump administration.

If the rules are adopted, thousands of Santa Cruz County residents could face a choice between continuing to use the services and maintaining eligibility to to become permanent residents.

But Thursday, local elected officials and nonprofit leaders cautioned that no changes have yet been made, not all programs would be impacted, and — at least for now — immigrants should continue using the services on which they rely.

“We’ve already experienced people saying will this impact us, and we want to very clear to our community that it will not at this time,” said Ray Cancino, CEO of Community Bridges, at a news conference Thursday at the nonprofit’s Watsonville headquarters. Community Bridges provides education and transportation programs to thousands of Santa Cruz County families and seniors.

Salud Para La Gente CEO Dori Rose Inda said she wished she could say the community health nonprofit’s services wouldn’t be affected. “I can’t say that,” she said, but added that at this point, before the rules are adopted, there is no reason to withdraw from the program. “This is a time to get informed.”

The Trump administration proposal would redefine what constitutes a “public charge,” a categorization for people seen as likely to become primarily dependent on government services.

Traditionally, only cash assistance and long-term care services had been considered. The new rules would expand consideration to include programs such as Medicaid, subsidized housing and food stamps. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children — WIC — would not be affected.

“This is very punitive. This is going to hurt people,” said Doug Keegan, an immigration attorney and director of the Santa Cruz County Immigration Project.

Watsonville Mayor Lowell Hurst said that what was once a “war on poverty” now appears to him to be a “war on the poor and a war on immigrants.”

“We know that everyone needs some help, everyone needs a leg up, and the worst thing we can do is suppress the poor and put further burdens on immigrants and poor folks,” Hurst said. “We should rise above that. Everybody got here with help.”

Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel, criticized the proposal as a “Sophie’s Choice,” and urged those with concerns to submit a public comment making their views known.

“Let this administration understand that this rule is wrong,” Panetta said. “This rule goes against what we stand for, not just as a community here in Watsonville and on the Central Coast, this rule goes against what we stand for as a country.”

The proposed public charge rules can be reviewed, and comments submitted, online at federalregister.gov through Dec. 10.