The Trump administration today is reinstating a Clinton-era welfare reform rule, once widely embraced by top Democrats in Congress, requiring immigrants to be self-sufficient, a move that could end up to $3 billion in federal and state welfare payments to them.
After receiving a blessing from the Supreme Court Friday, the “Public Charge Grounds Final Rule” kicked in nationally, essentially forcing immigrants to prove that they won’t become a burden on taxpayers.
Under the rule, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services “will look at the factors required under the law by Congress, like an alien’s age, health, income, education, and skills, among others, in order to determine whether the alien is likely at any time to become a public charge,” said an official.
Trump officials work to ease tensions in Minneapolis as secretive negotiations progress
Who’s turning up for oil rig work in post-Maduro Venezuela
Trump administration military strikes against drug cartels in Mexico would carry risks
Explosion at metal fabricating plant leaves at least 4 people injured in Pennsylvania
AOC voices support for anti-ICE shutdown, declines to participate
Gov Abbott issues disaster declaration to prevent screwworm fly infestation from spreading into Texas
Trump says intel chief Gabbard at Georgia FBI raid to ‘keep the election safe’
Trump warns UK it’s ‘very dangerous’ to do business with China after Starmer’s Beijing meeting
Trump administration eases sanctions on Venezuelan oil industry after Maduro’s capture
Video: Anti-ICE Agitators Say Video of Woman Writhing in Pain Shows ICE Blew Part of Her Hand Off, But Look What We Found When We Slowed It Down
Minnesota Attorney General Ellison denies making any ICE agreement deal with border czar Homan
CNN’s Navarro Calls Pretti ‘Perfect Guy’ She’d Want Daughter to Date Before Disturbing New Video Surfaces
House conservatives skeptical as Senate deal sacrificing DHS spending reached: ‘Non-starter’
Dems provide Republicans key votes to advance Trump-backed funding package
Hunter Biden Argues He’s Not Legally Obligated to Communicate with His 7-Year-Old Daughter in New Court Filing
After several judicial victories, the #PublicCharge final rule will go into effect nationwide on Feb. 24, including the state of Illinois.https://t.co/lmBRge1EP5
— USCIS (@USCIS) February 22, 2020
The rule is expected to affect millions and force many immigrants to shift off public welfare programs so that they are not deported. Some of the programs covered include Supplemental Security Income, cash assistance from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, and state or local general assistance programs. The use of Medicare can also be included.
“Self-sufficiency is a core American value and has been part of immigration law for centuries,” said Ken Cuccinelli, acting deputy secretary of Homeland Security and acting director of USCIS. “By requiring those seeking to come or stay in the United States to rely on their own resources, families, and communities, we will encourage self-sufficiency, promote immigrant success and protect American taxpayers,” he added.
The rule recently published in the Federal Register said there will be some costs associated with the change, but that there will also be a substantial reduction in the use of welfare programs.
Trump officials work to ease tensions in Minneapolis as secretive negotiations progress
Who’s turning up for oil rig work in post-Maduro Venezuela
Trump administration military strikes against drug cartels in Mexico would carry risks
Explosion at metal fabricating plant leaves at least 4 people injured in Pennsylvania
AOC voices support for anti-ICE shutdown, declines to participate
Gov Abbott issues disaster declaration to prevent screwworm fly infestation from spreading into Texas
Trump says intel chief Gabbard at Georgia FBI raid to ‘keep the election safe’
Trump warns UK it’s ‘very dangerous’ to do business with China after Starmer’s Beijing meeting
Trump administration eases sanctions on Venezuelan oil industry after Maduro’s capture
Video: Anti-ICE Agitators Say Video of Woman Writhing in Pain Shows ICE Blew Part of Her Hand Off, But Look What We Found When We Slowed It Down
Minnesota Attorney General Ellison denies making any ICE agreement deal with border czar Homan
CNN’s Navarro Calls Pretti ‘Perfect Guy’ She’d Want Daughter to Date Before Disturbing New Video Surfaces
House conservatives skeptical as Senate deal sacrificing DHS spending reached: ‘Non-starter’
Dems provide Republicans key votes to advance Trump-backed funding package
Hunter Biden Argues He’s Not Legally Obligated to Communicate with His 7-Year-Old Daughter in New Court Filing
In one section, it was estimated that there will be a reduction of $2.74 billion a year “due to disenrollment or foregone enrollment in public benefits programs by foreign-born non-citizens who may be receiving public benefits.”
Another reduction of $1.01 billion will come from federal medical spending tapped by immigrants.
A Department of Homeland Security official told Secrets that the president’s goal was not budget savings but enforcing laws on the books.
“The intent behind implementing the Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds Final Rule is not to save money, but rather to faithfully execute the nation’s long-standing public charge inadmissibility law, and better ensure that aliens seeking to come to and remain in the United States temporarily or permanently are able to support themselves as they seek opportunity here, relying on their own capabilities and the resources of their families, sponsors, and private organizations, rather than public resources,” said the official.
Several states have challenged the rule and lost in the Supreme Court. Several Democrats backed the rule when it was OK’d in 1996, but have since turned on it. They include Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.
