Under a new proposal from the administration of US President Donald Trump, immigrants in the United States who get government benefits like housing vouchers or food stamps could be denied a green card, which are granted to legal permanent residents.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Saturday that under the proposed rule change, being a current or previous recipient of certain public aid would be seen as a “heavily weighed negative factor” in considering an application for lawful permanent residency.
“This proposed rule will implement a law passed by Congress intended to promote immigrant self-sufficiency and protect finite resources by ensuring that they are not likely to become burdens on American taxpayers,” Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said.
DHS officials say that once the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register “in the coming weeks,” the clock will start on a 60-day public review period in which…