This archive report was first published on 20 August 2019.
On August 20, 2019, the states of New York, Connecticut, and Vermont, as well as New York City, took a stand against the Trump administration's new rule aimed at blocking immigrants who have ever used public assistance from applying for green cards.
The new rule, set to become effective in October, would bar immigrants who use public assistance, including food stamps, housing vouchers, and Medicaid, from legalizing their status.
According to Ken Cuccinelli, acting Director of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the new rule is designed to ensure that individuals coming to the US are self-sufficient and do not become a public charge.
“We want to see people coming to this country who are self-sufficient,” Cuccinelli said. “That’s a core principle of the American dream. It’s deeply embedded in our history, and particularly our history related to legal immigration,” he added.
However, the joint suit filed in the Manhattan federal court argues that the change is not in line with immigration laws and American values.
“The Trump administration’s thinly veiled efforts to only allow those who meet their narrow ethnic, racial, and economic criteria to enter our nation is a clear violation of our laws and our values,” said New York Attorney General Tish James in a statement.
James further stated that the proposed rule will result in more children going hungry, more families going without medical care, and more people living in the shadows and on the streets.
