Trump DHS Rules May Target Immigrants on Gov’t Benefits

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.