In a usage of the White House press briefing room like these days is rare from the Trump administration, acting head of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Ken Cuccinelli stepped out this Monday to deliver remarks on an update to rules surrounding immigration to the United States and the issuance of green cards, which grant “lawful permanent residence” in the country in the absence of full citizenship. According to the Trump official, access to the United States and to green cards will now be at least somewhat kept from those who are or are likely to become a “public charge,” which he defined as someone who receives one or more of a certain list of public benefits for at least 12 months overall throughout a period of 36 months. This means that while native-born American citizens are free to use these services, they have now been further restricted from those not born in the United States.
If those who are already on the fringes of society aren’t able to almost if not entirely financially support themselves from the get-go — well then they’re just out of luck, apparently. The benefits that could count against immigrants include food stamps, while others like some assistance to pregnant women and mortgage and student loans apparently remain unaffected.
Cuccinelli told reporters:
‘Through the public charge rule, President Trump’s administration is reinforcing the ideals of self-sufficiency and personal responsibility ensuring that immigrants are able to support themselves and become successful here in America. Our rule generally prevents aliens who are likely to become a public charge from coming to the United States or remaining here and getting a green card.’
Check it out:
Acting Director of the Citizenship and Immigration Services office Ken Cuccinelli: “President Trump’s administration is reinforcing the ideals of self-sufficiency and personal responsibility.”
New rules can deny green cards for immigrants on food stamps: https://t.co/bWZd9fM7uF pic.twitter.com/Hf2vAc2ZQ7
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) August 12, 2019
It’s no doubt utterly laughable to many for him to stand up there and arrogantly posture about what a defender of good old fashioned American hard work that Trump and his administration supposedly really are.
Remember — Donald Trump is the guy who coasted into his business career with massive influxes of assets from his family, squandered those through multiple bankruptcies and for at least a time in the early 90s lost literally more money than any other American, and these days claims a large portion of his supposed wealth from the supposed value of his last name alone. Donald Trump and anyone purporting to represent him are in no position whatsoever to lecture about “self-sufficiency” and “personal responsibility.”
Notably enough, while the rule isn’t even in force yet and remains simply looming on the horizon until its currently set effective date about two months out from now, New York Attorney General Letitia James has already insisted that she will launch a challenge.
On Twitter, she shared:
‘This is yet another action by the Trump administration to restrict legal immigration to our country. Denying people a path to citizenship simply because they depend on public benefits is patently un-American. We will fight back.’
This is yet another action by the Trump Administration to restrict legal immigration into our country.
Denying people a path to citizenship simply because they depend on public benefits is patently un-American.
We will fight back. https://t.co/0x1ljuF9N5
— NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) August 12, 2019
In the case of many public benefit programs, undocumented immigrants aren’t even eligible to use the services in question, although they sometimes benefit from documented members of their household receiving benefits. The new rule targets all immigrants, undocumented and documented, except refugees and asylum recipients.
Featured Image via screenshot