This archive report was first published on 13 August 2019.
On August 12, 2019, the Trump administration unveiled a policy change that could significantly impact the lives of millions of legal immigrants in the United States.
The policy, titled “Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds,” aims to deny green cards and citizenship to immigrants who rely on public benefits such as food stamps, Medicaid, or public housing.
According to Acting Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Ken Cuccinelli, the new rule is designed to promote self-sufficiency and personal responsibility among immigrants.
“Through the public charge rule, President Trump’s administration is reinforcing the ideals of self-sufficiency and personal responsibility, ensuring that immigrants are able to support themselves and become successful here in America,” Cuccinelli said in a White House briefing.
Analysts warn that the new policy could have a devastating impact on family-based legal immigration from Mexico, Central America, and Africa, where many intending green card holders struggle to make ends meet.
