{"id":2762,"date":"2019-08-16T14:31:49","date_gmt":"2019-08-16T14:31:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/affordablehousingonline.com\/blog\/?p=2762"},"modified":"2019-09-20T18:04:37","modified_gmt":"2019-09-20T18:04:37","slug":"trump-administration-rule-punishes-immigrants-use-public-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/affordablehousingonline.com\/blog\/trump-administration-rule-punishes-immigrants-use-public-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump Administration rule punishes immigrants who use public benefits"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Photo by Gage Skidmore: https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/gageskidmore\/<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Trump administration has issued a new 837 page rule<\/a> that will severely reduce the number of legal immigrants. The rule changes how officials determine if an immigrant is likely to depend on public benefits in the future.<\/p>\n

Under the new regulation, poor immigrants, those with limited education and those who have received public benefits can be denied admission and legal permanent residency, or even deported. Federal affordable housing programs are among the public benefits that can count against an immigration application.<\/p>\n

The new rule was originally proposed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in August, 2018, and covered by Affordable Housing Online<\/a>. More than 260,000 comments were received, which is three times more than a typical rule-making proposal.<\/p>\n

The Federal Register notice for the final rule observed that the vast majority of commenters were opposed to changes in the public charge rule and other immigrant admissions standards. It applies to those seeking admission to the U.S. or seeking legal permanent resident status (commonly referred to as a green card). The rule will take effect 60 days from its publication on August 14, 2019.<\/p>\n

Currently, immigrants applying for admission or permanent legal status are considered likely to be a public charge if more than half their income comes from public cash assistance. This generally means Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).<\/p>\n

The new rule defines a public charge as \u201can alien who has received or been approved to receive one or more public benefits for more than 12 months in the aggregate within any 36 month period (such that, for instance, receipt of two public benefits in one month coutns as two months).\u201d Under this standard, someone with a short-term emergency who receives housing assistance and Food Stamps for seven months could be ruled a public charge.<\/p>\n

The regulation lists the public benefits that count as negative factors when legal immigrants apply to adjust their status. These include:<\/p>\n