Source: Reuters
This week, the Supreme Court lifted the nationwide injunction that blocked the public charge rule, allowing the policy to take effect almost everywhere. While the case is pending in lower courts, this ruling will allow the government to deny green cards and visas to immigrants who seem likely to rely on food stamps, Medicaid, or other public benefits.
The rule essentially makes it more difficult for low-income immigrants to receive visas and green cards. Further, the rule would discourage individuals from applying for public benefits when they are legally eligible for those benefits.
“A spokesman for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency that processes visa applications, said it would ‘determine the most appropriate method to implement the public charge rule’ and would release additional information soon.”