During his time in office, President Trump and his administration made a lot of changes to immigration laws. Now, President Biden is making his own changes. As a result, U.S. immigration laws are changing rapidly, and it is important to remain up to speed. One of the latest changes is the removal of the public charge rule. Read on to learn more about the public charge rule and what changes are being implemented.
What is the Public Charge Rule?
On February 24, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security implemented Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds Final Rule. This meant that if you were an immigrant that was currently considered a “public charge,” or DHS determined that you would be at any point in the future, you would most likely be denied a Green Card.
What Does “Public Charge” Mean?
The phrase “public charge” refers to the use of public benefits. For example, if you are someone who now requires, or will require the use of Supplemental Security Income, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, most forms of Medicaid, certain housing programs, income maintenance, or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, you would no longer be considered “admissible.”
What Changes Have Occurred?
Recently, the Biden administration has decided that the government “will no longer defend the 2019 public charge rule as doing so is neither in the public interest nor an efficient use of limited government resources,” according to The Department of Homeland Security.
Additionally, The Department of Homeland Security has stated, “‘the 2019 public charge rule was not in keeping with our nation’s values. It penalized those who access health benefits and other government services available to them,’ said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. ‘Consistent with the President’s vision, we will continue to implement reforms that improve our legal immigration system.’”
As more changes occur, our firm will continue to keep you updated. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your immigration status or the naturalization process, contact our firm to speak with a dedicated immigration attorney.
Contact our experienced Wisconsin firm
John Sesini is an experienced immigration attorney with offices in Green Bay and Milwaukee Wisconsin. Our firm understands what is at stake when it comes to immigration law matters, which is why If you have any questions, you should not hesitate to contact the Sesini Law Group, S.C. and schedule your initial consultation with our firm today.