A coalition of states and local governments is suing the Trump administration over plans to limit green cards for immigrants enrolled in public benefits.
The two lawsuits, filed Monday, say the White House is upending decades of legal precedent governing social safety nets and sparking fear and confusion. Set to go into effect on September 18, Trump’s policy would allow federal officers to consider whether an applicant has used — or is likely to use — public benefits during their green card application process.
The suits seek to block the Department of Homeland Security and federal leaders from considering an individual’s use of benefits in these applications.
New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, and Seattle are among the plaintiffs, as are several states.
Typically, eligibility for federal aid programs — such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, housing vouchers, and Medicaid — is based on household income and size.
Many immigrants do not qualify for social safety net programs, and the programs are fully unavailable to undocumented people. Even after they have a green card, it can take years for immigrants to be legally allowed to claim benefits. Still, plaintiffs say a policy like this could discourage immigrant families with US-born children from enrolling for food or healthcare assistance.
It’s not the first time the administration has taken steps to limit avenues for immigration. The White House hoped to institute a $100,000 H-1B visa fee for employers, which was most recently blocked by an appeals court. Companies like Meta, Google, and Amazon have slashed H-1B petitions after Trump’s visa crackdown.
Economists have also pointed toward declining immigration as a reason for declining labor force participation this year.
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