‘Public Charge’ Rule

On Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security published a final rule expanding the types of public assistance that make immigrants “public charges” and thus ineligible for green cards. DHS

The rule applies to the following programs: Any federal, state, local, or tribal cash assistance, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, or formerly called “Food Stamps”), Section 8 Housing/Rental Assistance, Public Housing, Federally funded Medicaid (with certain exclusions).

It does not apply to: Medicaid for the treatment of an emergency medical condition,...