This archive report was first published on 9 October 2019.
On October 15th, a new rule titled 'Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds' will come into effect, impacting immigrants seeking green cards and citizenship.
Initially published on August 14, 2019, the rule clarifies factors used by the US government to determine an individual's status as a public charge or potential public charge.
According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the rule applies to applicants for admission, aliens seeking to adjust their status, and nonimmigrant visa holders seeking to extend their stay or change their status.
The Trump administration considers immigrants who use public benefits such as food stamps, Medicaid, or public housing to be 'public charges,' making them ineligible to adjust their status.
USCIS Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli stated, '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.'
However, analysts warn that the new rule could dramatically reduce family-based legal immigration from Mexico, Central America, and Africa, where intending green card holders are economically disadvantaged.
