Key facts
- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is reviving a rule that could deny green cards to immigrants using public benefits.
- The rule takes effect September 18.
- The definition of a public charge will be expanded to include those who received government benefits for more than 12 months in a three-year period.
- The Biden administration had previously narrowed the definition of a public charge.
- New regulations will shorten permitted stays for international students and foreign media representatives, taking effect September 15.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is reviving a Trump-era rule that could deny permanent residency to immigrants who have used public benefits such as food stamps and Medicaid. The administration stated that immigrants seeking green cards should be self-reliant and not dependent on government assistance. This revived rule, which takes effect September 18, broadens the definition of a 'public charge' to include individuals who have received government benefits for more than 12 months within a three-year period. The previous Biden administration had narrowed this definition in 2022. Immigrant advocates had heavily criticized the original rule, arguing it unfairly targeted low-income individuals and would create barriers to obtaining permanent residency. Additionally, new regulations will shorten permitted stays for international students and foreign media representatives, eliminating the decades-old duration-of-status framework and taking effect September 15.