Trump is reintroducing a controversial policy that will make it even harder to obtain green cards for immigrants who use or are likely to use public benefits, including food stamps, Medicaid and housing vouchers.
The final rule announced Monday, July 20, allows immigration officials to consider a broader range of public assistance programs when determining whether green card applicants are likely to become “public charges,” an assessment factor. This repeals a 2022 Biden-era rule that exempted non-monetary benefits from quid pro quo.
The Department of Homeland Security said: “This final rule is intended to ensure that those who apply for permanent residency are able to support themselves and are not likely to become primarily dependent on public assistance. »
“We reaffirm the demand for autonomy, protection of public resources and an end to policies that encouraged reliance on hard-working American taxpayers,” the ministry added.
About 588,000 people undergo public charge testing each year. Traditionally, immigration officials only considered monetary benefits, such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Supplemental Security Income, during these evaluations.
The new regulations are broader in scope than a similar regulation introduced by the Trump administration in 2020, but was then repealed by the Biden administration the following year. Critics called the previous regulation a “wealth test” because it applied primarily to poor people.
According to DHS estimates, about 950,000 people could choose to leave or not enroll in six public benefit programs, including Medicaid and food stamps. The rule comes into effect on September 18.
