Cities, states sue DHS over plan to deny green cards to immigrants who use public benefits

Dive Brief: A coalition of cities and counties on Monday sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security over its new “public charge” rule that expands the criteria immigration agents can use to deny green cards and visas based on immigrants’ use of local, state or federal public benefits.

Twenty-two states and the District of Columbia on Monday filed a separate lawsuit challenging the rule.

A month later, DHS released a new version of its policy manual directing that “an alien is likely at any time to become a public charge” if they are “likely at any time to depend on means-tested public benefits,” the lawsuit states.

The new public charge rule is expected to go into effect Sept. 18.

“This rule is not only cruel, it is unlawful, and it threatens the health and safety of our entire city.”