The Supreme Court ruled Monday that the Trump administration can move ahead with its “public charge” regulation that could block immigrants who wind up on the public dole from earning a pathway to citizenship.
It marks another significant victory for President Trump, giving him a tentative go-ahead on one of his key policies aimed at putting Americans’ needs first in the immigration system.
The 5-4 decision stays a lower court injunction, allowing U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to move ahead with examining would-be immigrants’ history of access to public programs such as food stamps, many forms of Medicaid, public housing assistance, welfare cash payments and Supplemental Security Income benefits.
If an officer believes immigrants haven’t proved they would be self-sufficient, their applications to adjust their status could be denied.
The White House cheered the decision, with press secretary Stephanie Grisham calling it “a massive win for American taxpayers, American workers and the American Constitution.”
Immigration activists were outraged.
“It helps advance the clear objective of the Trump administration’s white, nativist, xenophobic agenda: keep all immigrants out,” said Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, who said the Supreme Court has ruled it’s OK to hurt children and families.
Author: Stephen Dinan
Source: Washington Times: Supreme Court gives Trump go-ahead to deny immigrants who use welfare
