House Files Amicus Brief on Immigrant Public Charge Rule

ANCOR has expressed concerns about a Trump Administration rule that makes it harder to become a citizen if one has relied on public benefits, including Medicaid, because of its effect on immigrants with disabilities and their families. Last week, the House of Representatives waded into legal skirmishes surrounding the rule, which is currently under a nationwide halt placed by a federal court in New York. As reported by Politico Pulse:

“HOUSE DEMOCRATS BOOST LEGAL FIGHT AGAINST ‘PUBLIC CHARGE’ RULE: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi led the House of Representatives in an amicus brief on Tuesday to support immigrant rights groups’ fight against a Trump administration policy to limit green cards for immigrants who use public programs like Medicaid.

The brief was filed in the Richmond-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, where judges have already lifted a nationwide block of the so-called ‘public charge’ policy while it moves through appeal but have yet to rule on its merits.

The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to lift the last remaining nationwide injunction against the regulations — handed down by a New York judge and upheld by the 2nd Circuit.”

Update on status of the injunction on the public charge rule, as reported by Axios:

“The Supreme Court ruled Monday that the Trump administration can begin enforcing new rules that penalize immigrants who are likely to rely on certain public programs, such as food stamps or Medicaid.

Why it matters: This isn’t a final ruling on the rules’ legality — the 5-4 vote allows them to take effect while courts decide further — but it’s a significant incremental victory for the White House. It’ll quickly make it much harder for lower-income immigrants to get a green card, change their immigration status or become citizens.

Go deeper: Health of immigrants at risk in changes to public assistance policies”