The policy that emerged under the Trump administration referred to as the “public charge” policy complicated the process for immigrants to gain legal status in the United States if they receive public government benefits including food stamps or Medicaid. Individuals who are dependent on these subsidence benefits find it more difficult to obtain refuge as they are less likely to be eligible for a range of visas. There is also a substantial increase in public charge deportability for permanent residents seeking naturalization in the United States. The Biden administration has made it its mission to repeal this “public charge” rule and abandon this unjust policy, and it proposed a varying version of this policy. Under this new and improved policy, less immigrants have been denied a green card or other form of visa in relation to public “charge” grounds.
As a result of these changes, several Republican-led states are attempting to challenge the termination of this rule as they are frustrated with the continuation of certain procedures following the conclusion of this rule. However, the U.S. Supreme court has denied their appeal to revive the Trump-era policy to the way it was prior to the Biden administration’s alterations to the rule. This entire lawsuit resulted from Biden’s decisions to terminate the rule in March of 2021, which could mean that proceeding determinations to reinstate this rule could be unsuccessful as well.