States and Cities Sue to Block Trump Public Charge Rule

A coalition of 22 states, the District of Columbia, and several major cities filed two federal lawsuits in Manhattan on Monday to block a Trump administration policy restricting green card eligibility for immigrants who use public benefits. The expanded public charge rule, scheduled to take effect September 18, grants immigration officers broad discretion to deny visas and green cards to applicants deemed likely to depend on government aid, including Medicaid, SNAP, and housing vouchers.

Letitia James, the Attorney General of New York, led the coalition of states and the District of Columbia in arguing that the rule is arbitrary and capricious. Simultaneously, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani led a separate lawsuit joined by cities including Chicago, San Francisco, and Seattle, as well as the Public Rights Project. Plaintiffs contend the policy unlawfully broadens a century of settled law and will create a chilling effect, forcing immigrant families to forgo essential healthcare and nutrition services to avoid jeopardizing their legal status.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services defended the rule, stating it protects taxpayers and ensures immigrants are self-sufficient. DHS officials dismissed the lawsuits, suggesting sanctuary states are primarily concerned about losing federal funds if noncitizens stop using welfare programs. In a separate legal development on the same day, a federal judge in Boston blocked a different DHS regulation that would have imposed fixed time limits on certain student, exchange visitor, and journalist visas.