Posted on 09/18/2026 11:09:30 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
Use of tuition aid, free school lunch programs and more could be grounds for denying applications for legal permanent residency under a new rule. States and cities are suing.
Immigrants applying to live permanently in the United States can be rejected if they receive public benefits, beginning this week.
Use of Medicaid, food stamps, tuition assistance and free school lunch programs, among other government assistance, could all be grounds for denying a green-card application.
The policy from President Donald Trump’s administration, which took effect Friday, marks a dramatic change to a long-standing federal policy consistent with the president’s efforts to restrict legal immigration pathways.
The new rule could reduce federal and state payments by $13 billion a year, by persuading some 950,000 people to disenroll from or avoid federal safety net programs, according to estimates from the Department of Homeland Security. The agency said that the rule aligns with Congress’s intent that noncitizens “in the United States be self-sufficient and not dependent on taxpayer-funded government benefits.”
Applying for a green card, or legal permanent residency, is a necessary step for those seeking U.S. citizenship.
This week, New York led 21 other states, the District of Columbia and several cities in suing the Trump administration over the new rule. The lawsuit argued that the rule fails “to consider many important aspects” of the problems it creates and warned that the harms will extend to mixed-status families and U.S. citizen children. Ask The Post AIDive deeper
“Cruelty is the point,” New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) said at a news conference announcing the lawsuit this week. “Having a chilling effect on immigrants is the point. Letting individuals know that they are not welcome here is the point”
The rule allows immigration officers to use their judgment in considering whether use of benefits..
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
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The rule allows immigration officers to use their judgment in considering whether use of benefits..
A hard and fast rule
OR
Local justice.
As a kid I got local justice be cause the local authorities knew my situation and made a judgement. Sometimes I got justice I deserved, sometimes I got mercy, which I didn’t deserve.
GREAT MOVE !!!!!!!!!!!
This week, New York led 21 other states, the District of Columbia and several cities in suing the Trump administration over the new rule.
The agency said that the rule aligns with Congress’s intent that noncitizens “in the United States be self-sufficient and not dependent on taxpayer-funded government benefits.”
“Immigrants applying to live permanently in the United States can be rejected if they receive public benefits, beginning this week.”
I’m usually pretty cynical about what appellate courts will do, but on this issue—if taken to the Supreme Court—I think this would be a win for the Trump administration.
Use of Medicaid, food stamps, tuition assistance and free school lunch programs, among other government assistance, could all be grounds for denying a green-card application.
.........
Applying for a green card, or legal permanent residency, is a necessary step for those seeking U.S. citizenship.
These benefits are issued directly by govt. Many benefits are through non profits with govt grants.
GOOD, they should NOT be getting any benefits anyway. You want to come to this country, fine, take care of YOURSELF, but thats not how it works, they come here for freebies, health care, housing, food, etc, all provided by the Dems and in return all they have to do is vote Dem that simple
Good.
Don’t care that you are here but, you are not entitled to taxpayer bene’s and if you get caught, you knew the consequences.
If liberals were actually serious about helping Americans they would support this (obviously they aren’t)
To fight pestilence, the first thing is to make the environment hostile to the pests.
Right, which begs the question: how long can they stay if on welfare? How long does the "humanitarian" privilege continue, etc.?
The people who oppose this are hilarious. Out of one side of their mouth, they argue that illegal immigrants are a tremendous economic benefit to the country, working very hard and doing jobs Americans won't do. On the other hand, those same illegals must be entitled to government handouts for which you can only qualify if you aren't even earning enough money to pay federal income tax.
Complete joke.
My wife got a green card and the application and approval clearly said: you are not able to receive public benefits if you are a green card recipient.
Right, which begs the question: how long can they stay if on welfare? How long does the “humanitarian” privilege continue, etc.?
It also affects those getting benefits at the discretion of the local administrator. Trump can affect that administrator, thus the law suits.
It is not a perfect solution but a STEP in the right direction.
Again, I will state the goal is good citizens, not getting rid of all illegal immigrants. Many here don’t like that idea but I will keep saying it.
Now, if we can only get the citizens off welfare................
It's a twofer - they're happy giving away THEIR MONEY AND WE'RE HAPPY HAVING THEM SPEND THEIR MONEY ON WHAT THEY THEY TEH6 CARE ABOUT. Rather than dumping the charges on the rest of us. Oh and eff the white liberal elites and the horses they rode in on.
Since the founding of the USA, immigrants were rejected, when they were deemed likely to be public charge!
This is the law of the land!
All immigrants are supposed to have sponsor, who is responsible for all their welfare!
Unfortunately, Democrats over the years decided that this would be too much to ask from the sponsor.
NO!
The law of the land still stands, sponsor is responsible!
Amen.
I voted for this!
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