Trump admin may make it harder for foreigners who used benefits to get permanent US residency
The rules would affect close family members of US citizens and workers employed by US companies, among others
The Trump administration is considering making it harder for foreigners living in the United States to get permanent residency if they have received certain public benefits such as food assistance, in a move that could sharply restrict legal immigration.
The Department of Homeland Security has drafted proposed new rules seen by Reuters that would allow immigration officers to scrutinise a potential immigrant’s use of certain taxpayer-funded public benefits to determine if they could become a public burden.
For example, US officials could look at whether the applicant has enrolled a child in government preschool programmes or received subsidies for utility bills or health insurance premiums.
Availability of public benefits may provide an incentive for aliens to immigrate to the United States
The draft rules are a sharp departure from current guidelines, which have been in place for nearly two decades and specifically bar authorities from considering such non-cash benefits in deciding a person’s eligibility to immigrate to the United States or stay in the country.
“Non-citizens who receive public benefits are not self-sufficient and are relying on the US government and state and local entities for resources instead of their families, sponsors or private organisations,” the document states.
“An alien’s receipt of public benefits comes at taxpayer expense and availability of public benefits may provide an incentive for aliens to immigrate to the United States.”
Receiving such benefits could weigh against an applicant, even if they were for an immigrant’s US citizen children, according to the document.