The Department of Homeland Security announced on Thursday that it would be giving immigration officers broader authority to consider immigrants’ use of public benefits when deciding whether they qualify for permanent legal status.
The new final rule, which was issued on Thursday morning, is a reversal of a 2022 Biden-era rule that limited DHS to consider only cash welfare when considering public charge. Now, USCIS officers can consider a wider array of benefits, including applicant metrics such as age, health, and prior use of benefits ranging from housing and food assistance, when considering applications for legal permanent residence as well as immigrants seeking to enter the country.
“The Trump administration is upholding the rule of law and protecting American taxpayers from subsidizing aliens who may become dependent on public benefits,” USCIS spokesperson Zach Kahler said in a statement following the policy shift.