Trump rule restricting immigration based on wealth takes effect
Washington — The Trump administration on Monday began enforcing stringent income-based requirements for green cards and certain visas, instituting the most ambitious unilateral effort in recent history to change the nation's legal immigration system.
After multiple legal barriers blocking the implementation of the new requirements were cleared by the conservative-leaning Supreme Court, most green card applicants in the U.S. and abroad will now be subjected to a redefined stemming from the proposed changes that has prompted fearful immigrant families, some with U.S. citizen members, to drop out of essential welfare programs.
To curb this confusion and fear, advocacy groups and local officials have staged public awareness campaigns. Organizations like the Legal Aid Society, Make The Road New York and Empire Justice Center have created tools for lawyers and advocates to advise and screen immigrants on the new requirements.
"The implementation of the public charge rule today is a devastating blow for all Americans. The rule is heartless, cruel, and betrays our core values as a nation of immigrants," Kristin Brown, president of the Empire Justice Center, said in a statement. "This public charge screening tool will guide community-based organizations in helping families make crucial decisions that may carry life-changing consequences."
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