New York City and States Sue Trump Administration Over Expanded Green Card Policy
New York City, alongside a coalition of other cities including Chicago and San Francisco, and a separate group of 21 states led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration. The legal actions challenge a new immigration policy set to take effect on September 18, 2026. This policy broadens the definition of 'public charge,' giving immigration officers greater discretion to consider an applicant's use of public benefits when evaluating green card and visa applications. Historically, the 'public charge' rule, which dates back to the Immigration Act of 1882, primarily focused on cash assistance. The first Trump administration expanded this to include non-cash benefits like Medicaid and food stamps, a change that was later reversed by the Biden administration in 2022. The current Trump administration's new rule further expands this, stating that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will consider the receipt of 'any means-tested public benefits,' without s...
