WASHINGTON DC – The Trump administration’s “public charge” rule is now in effect after the Supreme Court lifted a lower court’s injunction on the regulation last month.
Under the rule’s regulations, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will place screening criteria that identifies and selects prospective immigrants who will be less likely to depend on government programs and become public charges.
Factors evaluated include:
- Age, health, family status, financial status, educational attainment, and skill sets.
- Previous and current use of state and federal programs, including, but not limited to, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and public housing.
A ban on public charge goes back as far as the early Massachusetts Bay Colony. The interests of the American people are best served when immigrants selected for admission into the United States can demonstrate they are capable of providing for themselves and their dependents. The Trump administration’s rule is a major component in its desire to implement a merit-based immigration system.
