No Borders NewsCalifornia Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a lawsuit, joined by a multistate coalition, aimed at blocking a new Trump Administration “public charge” rule.
The public charge concept is used in immigration law to decide whether a person may be denied admission or a green card. Historically, it has been interpreted narrowly, focusing on whether someone is expected to become primarily dependent on government support for long-term needs.
According to the announcement, the new rule would dramatically expand who could be treated as a “public charge.” The states say this would force millions of immigrants to choose between accessing healthcare or food assistance and protecting their pathway to lawful permanent residency.
The lawsuit argues the federal rewrite goes beyond what the law allows and is arbitrary and capricious under the federal Administrative Procedure Act. The coalition is asking the court to vacate the rule.
If the rule is blocked, it would help preserve the narrower approach the states say has been in place for more than a century. People affected by public benefits and immigration decisions may want to follow the case closely and check the official court filings and guidance from federal agencies.