US Seeks to Curtail Green Cards for Immigrants on Public Aid

Pedestrians crossing from Mexico into the United States at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry wait in line in San Diego. The Trump administration is proposing rules that could deny green cards to immigrants if they use Medicaid, food stamps, housing vouchers and other forms of public assistance. The Department of Homeland Security said on Sept. 22, 2018, that current and past receipt of certain public benefits above thresholds will be considered "a heavily weighed negative factor" in granting green cards as well as temporary visas. By Denis Poroy/AP

SAN DIEGO—The Trump administration on Sept. 22, proposed rules that could deny green cards to immigrants if they use Medicaid, food stamps, housing vouchers and other forms of public assistance.

Federal law already requires those seeking green cards and to prove they will not be a burden—or “public charge”—but the new rules detail a broad range of programs that could disqualify them.