Trump administration will deport privileged green card holders

A new proposal from President Donald Trump's administration would make it much easier to deport legal immigrants - legal permanent residents of the United States who benefit from public benefits and assistance programs.

Фото: Depositphotos

The Trump administration is considering changing long-standing policies to facilitate the deportation of legal US permanent residents who used public benefits and benefits. The new proposal has become part of government efforts to limit the immigration of low-income people, writes Reuters.

The draft resolution of the Department of Justice dramatically expands the category of people who may be deported on the grounds that they enjoy benefits.

Currently, legal permanent residents who are classified as a "burden on society" (primarily dependent on government assistance and benefits) can also be deported, but in practice this is very rare.

On the subject: Officially: green card holders will be denied citizenship because of working with marijuana

The new ruling would use a broader definition of “burden on the public” to include immigrants who used a range of benefits, including cash benefits, food stamps, housing assistance or Medicaid.

Although the change plan is at an early stage and may never become official government policy, as well as trigger numerous lawsuits, the Trump administration views it as part of efforts to curb legal immigration, complementing work to reduce illegal immigration to the United States.

It's difficult to determine the full extent of the new rules' possible impact on immigration, but the policy change could affect permanent residents, also called green card holders, who are legally entitled to use public benefits - such as refugees.

Фото: Depositphotos

US Department of Justice spokesman Alexei Voltornist said that the agency “does not comment on or confirm the draft resolution.”

US law allows for the deportation of immigrants who become a "burden to society" within five years of their arrival in the US if the reason for seeking assistance and benefits was known before entering the United States - for example, if the immigrant had a chronic illness that he retained in secret.

But due to the 1948 ruling of the year, the deportation of immigrants using public goods was strictly limited to cases where the government demanded payment of public services, but the person did not pay. Immigration lawyers say that they rarely (or even never) heard about being deported for using public goods.

The draft decree states that the government will cancel this precedent to allow the deportation of certain permanent residents who have used certain public goods for five years after arriving in the United States.

In order for the plan to take effect, it will need to go through a public discussion, after which it is possible to revise the document. He will then have to be signed by Attorney General William Barr.

The draft decree states that the government will cancel this precedent to allow the deportation of certain permanent residents who have used certain public goods for five years after arriving in the United States.

In order for the plan to take effect, it will need to go through a public discussion, after which it is possible to revise the document. He will then have to be signed by Attorney General William Barr.

Public benefits considered include Supplemental Security Income (SSI), provided to the disabled and elderly; the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps; housing vouchers; many Medicaid benefits; and the cash assistance program Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

On the subject: 5 dangerous mistakes when applying for a green card on marriage

Under federal policy, many permanent residents are not eligible for government benefits unless they have received a green card within five years. Therefore, it is unlikely that they will be deported on the basis of a “burden on society” even in accordance with the draft resolution.

But dozens of states have more lenient rules—for example, allowing pregnant women and children who are permanent residents access to Medicaid without a waiting period.

Фото: Depositphotos

Tightening the rules could affect thousands of immigrant veterans, refugees and asylum seekers who are eligible for many benefits without time limits. Existing military personnel will not be affected.

"New Territory"

Immigrant lawyers say that the effect of possible changes on immigration is unclear, since it will be a serious departure from long-standing practice.

“This is kind of new territory because this has never been done before,” said Charles Wheeler, an attorney for the nonprofit group Catholic Legal Immigration Network. “I am concerned that the rules will target foreign residents who thought they were freely entitled to receive public programs and benefits.”

The Justice Department's draft rule is based on a similar Department of Homeland Security plan that greatly expands the definition of a "burden on the public."

The Department of Homeland Security may decide whether or not to grant immigration benefits, while the Immigration Judges of the Department of Justice may also decide whether to deport a resident.

The Department of Homeland Security is expected to tighten regulations soon so that a "public charge" will be any alien "who receives one or more government benefits," including many cash and non-cash benefits such as food stamps, housing vouchers and Medicaid .

The draft resolution reflects the above and instructs immigration judges to consider the use of public goods as an aggravating negative factor in determining whether an alien’s entry and stay in the United States is acceptable.

The State Department is also trying to restrict people who can use public goods to enter the United States.

Last year, the State Department gave U.S. consular officials more discretion in denying visas to people they believe could become a “burden to the public.” The number of people turned away for this reason in 2018 was 4 times higher than in 2017, and was the highest level since 2004.

On the subject: A small change in the rules led to a sharp increase in the number of refusals in US visas

In addition to working on new standards for the deportation of legal permanent residents, the Department of Justice also considers the requirement that foreigners wishing to obtain permanent resident status provide the court with documents confirming their financial independence. In the form that an immigration judge will need to submit, a detailed list of assets, incomes and debts is required, along with other information.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Trump tightened asylum rules for immigrants: what will change

Stuck in the USA: they cannot deport illegal immigrants from Florida because of a loophole in the law

Skull and rib fracture: an immigrant accused of killing a baby, deported 5 times

In Massachusetts, a judge helped an illegal escape from the Immigration Control Service

In New York, illegals may begin to issue a driver's license: what you need to know about innovation

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.