Politics
Trump Administration Implements New Public Charge Green Card Policy
New York TImes · last week · Read the Full Story on New York TImes
AI SUMMARY
A new Trump administration policy restricts green cards for immigrants who use public benefits, drawing immediate legal challenges from dozens of states.
- The new public charge rule takes effect Friday and allows immigration officers to reject green card applicants if they or certain relatives use public benefits such as Medicaid, food stamps, or student financial aid.
- Green card holders are permanently allowed to live and work in the United States and can eventually apply for citizenship.
- A coalition of more than 20 states and several local governments sued the administration over the rule, calling it catastrophic.
- The Department of Homeland Security estimates the policy could cause about 950,000 people to unenroll from or forgo public assistance programs.
- Federal law has barred immigrants deemed likely to become dependent on the government from obtaining green cards since 1882.
- Previous immigration policy primarily considered institutionalized long-term care and cash assistance like TANF, rather than non-cash benefits like food stamps and Medicaid.
- The new guidance allows officers to consider means-tested public benefits, housing assistance, and financial aid for college, though critics argue the lack of specificity grants sweeping discretion.
- The policy applies to immigrants inside the United States applying for green cards, including skilled workers and family members of U.S. citizens.
- Refugees, people granted asylum, and specific Afghan nationals are exempt from the new policy.
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