Supreme Court allows green card denial to those who may need government aid

Allows enforcement of new green card rule

WASHINGTON (KYMA, KECY) - A 5-4 ruling by the Supreme Court allows the Trump administration's new rules that could affect green card holders considered too dependent on government benefits.

Under this new policy, green cards may be denied to legal immigrants over their use of food stamps, Medicaid, and housing vouchers.

In August, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced it would expand the definition of "public charge," applying it to immigrants who are potentially dependent on the government for income.

NBC reports anyone who requires a "broader range" of help for over a year in any three-year period would be included in this new definition "public charge."

The DHS is also taking factors such as age, financial resources, employment history, education and health into account.

With these new rules, immigrants entering the United States must now show they would not be public charges.

Previously, immigrants who used non-cash benefits were not considered public charges.

Now, this new policy expands factors that could deny, or even take away one's green card status.

It is not yet clear how many people be affected by this new rule, but around half a million immigrants are granted green cards annually.