Trump Administration Revives Rule Denying Green Cards to Migrants Who Use Public Benefits

The 'public charge' test would let immigration officers reject applicants who rely on Medicaid, housing aid or food stamps.

The Trump administration is reviving a policy that would let immigration officers deny green cards to applicants who have used public benefits such as Medicaid, housing assistance or food stamps, the Hill reported.

The policy governs how officials apply the "public charge" test, a longstanding immigration tool used to determine whether an applicant for permanent residency is likely to become dependent on government support, according to the Hill.

Reviving the rule would give immigration officers broader authority to reject green card applications based on an applicant's use of federal safety-net programs, marking the latest step in the administration's push to tighten legal immigration requirements.

— Compiled from reporting by the Hill.