First Lawsuits Against Trump Administration’s ‘Public Charge’ Rule Filed By California Counties
A day after they were announced, San Francisco and Santa Clara counties filed legal challenges to block the Trump administration's new rules aimed at denying green cards to immigrants who use Medicaid, food stamps, housing vouchers or other forms of public assistance. In their filings, the two northern California counties argue that the policy would "worsen" the health of their residents and increase public health risks. More lawsuits from other localities are expected.
The New York Times:
California Counties Sue To Block Trump’s New Green Card Test
San Francisco and Santa Clara County in California filed a lawsuit Tuesday to block the Trump administration from implementing a new rule that would deny permanent residency to legal immigrants if they are judged likely to use government benefit programs. President Trump issued the regulation, called the public charge rule, on Monday. Starting in October, the federal government plans to base decisions about permanent legal status on a wealth test: Poor immigrants would be denied if they are deemed likely to use programs like food stamps or subsidized housing, while wealthier immigrants designated as less likely to require public assistance would be approved. (Zaveri and Padilla, 8/13)
The Washington Post:
Calif. Jurisdictions Sue To Block Policy That Denies Poor Immigrants Access To Path To Citizenship
Two Northern California governments filed a legal challenge to the Trump administration’s new effort to deny green cards to immigrants who use Medicaid, food stamps or other public aid, or might in the future, calling the new rule “irrational” and “vague.” Officials with Santa Clara County and San Francisco said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that the “public charge” rule “coerces” legal immigrants into dropping out of public health, food and housing programs, which could lead local governments to carry the burden of millions of dollars in public assistance. The jurisdictions asked a judge with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to block the policy immediately. (Sacchetti, 8/13)
The Associated Press:
California Counties Sue Over Public Benefit Immigration Rule
In a filing, the counties of Santa Clara and San Francisco argued that the rules will worsen the health and well-being of their residents, increase public health risks and financially harm the counties. The rules, the counties argued, would result in a “chilling effect” in which migrants forgo or disenroll from federal public assistance programs to reduce the risk of being denied a green card. This practice would mean that the cost of services would shift from federal to state governments, the counties argued. (Maldonado, 8/13)
Reuters:
San Francisco Sues Trump Administration Over Rule To Limit Legal Immigration
“The final rule will worsen the health and well-being of the counties’ residents, increase risks to the public health, undermine the counties’ health and safety-net systems, and inflict significant financial harm,” the suit said. San Francisco is both a city and a county. Santa Clara County includes the city of San Jose and various other parts of Silicon Valley. (Trotta, 8/13)
The Wall Street Journal:
San Francisco, Santa Clara County File Suit To Block Rule On Green Cards
The plaintiffs say in their 23-page lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, that the rule changing the definition of who might become a “public charge” under federal immigration law is “not only harmful; it is also unlawful.” The Justice Department didn’t respond to a request to comment. (Caldwell, 8/13)
The Hill:
California Counties File First Lawsuit Over Trump 'Public Charge' Rule
San Francisco and Santa Clara County successfully sued the administration over a rule that would have taken federal funding from “sanctuary cities” that refuse to enforce federal immigration laws. The Trump administration released the final version of the "public charge" rule on Monday. It is set to go into effect Oct. 15. The two California counties are pushing for the implementation date to be postponed. (Rodrigo, 8/13)
Meanwhile, the acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' comments draw attention —
NPR:
Cuccinelli Twists Statue Of Liberty Poem To Defend New Immigration Rule
"Give me your tired and your poor who can stand on their own two feet and who will not become a public charge," Ken Cuccinelli, the acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said Tuesday, twisting Emma Lazarus' famous words on a bronze plaque at the Statue of Liberty. Cuccinelli was speaking to NPR's Morning Edition about a new regulation he announced Monday that targets legal immigration. The rule denies green cards and visas to immigrants if they use — or are deemed likely to need — federal, state and local government benefits including food stamps, housing vouchers and Medicaid. The change stands to impact hundreds of thousands of immigrants who come to the United States legally every year. (Ingber and Martin, 8/13)
And news outlets examine how the rule could potentially impact Ohio and New Mexico —
The Associated Press:
New Mexico Says Public Benefit Immigrant Rule May Hurt Kids
New Mexico’s human services secretary fears that children may be deprived of food assistance and other vital services under the Trump administration’s new rule to deny green cards to migrants who use Medicaid, food stamps and other forms of public assistance. (8/14)
Cleveland Plain Dealer:
Trump’s New 'Public Charge’ Policy Could Affect More Than 50,000 Immigrants In Ohio
A new immigration policy that President Trump said will ensure that immigrants to the United States are financially self-sufficient could affect more than 50,000 non-citizens who receive public benefits in Ohio. The policy announced Monday would bar non-citizens from entering the United States if they’re deemed likely to become “public charges” who use taxpayer funded benefits like food stamps, SSI, some forms of subsidized housing and most forms of Medicaid. (Eaton, 8/13)
