JUDGMENT

Trump DHS Rules May Target Immigrants on Gov’t Benefits

Those seeking permanent residency will be judged by amount of public benefits they use.

The Trump administration has drafted new rules making it harder for current foreigners in the U.S. who receive tax-funded public benefits to obtain permanent residency. According to a Reuters review of the draft, these proposed rules by the Department of Homeland Security would be used “to determine if they could become a public burden.” Even if the public benefits were used for the person's U.S. citizen children, the person would still be considered a “public charge” and it would weigh against them. These draft rules are a departure from current, long-standing policy of not using the benefits a foreigner uses to determine how eligible they would be for U.S. citizenship.