New York Mayor, Attorney-General Sue Trump’s Govt Over New Immigration Policy | Citizen NewsNG
Citizen NewsNG
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The New York City Mayor, Zohran Mamdani, and New York Attorney General, Letitia James, have filed separate lawsuits against the Donald Trump’s administration over a new immigration policy that could make it easier for officials to deny green card applications based on an immigrant’s potential use of public benefits.
The lawsuits seek to stop the public charge rule, which is scheduled to take effect on Friday.
Under the rule, immigration officials would have broader discretion to assess whether an applicant is likely to become dependent on government assistance when considering applications for permanent residency.
Mamdani and James said the policy could discourage immigrants from accessing government services they are legally entitled to, including food assistance and healthcare.
“New Yorkers will be afraid to see a doctor or ask for help they are legally entitled to,” Mamdani said.
He added that the policy could affect families beyond those directly targeted by the federal government.
James also warned that the rule could have a widespread effect on immigrant communities, saying families may avoid public assistance out of fear that doing so could affect their immigration status.
She said immigration officers could consider the use of benefits such as Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and school meal programmes when assessing an applicant’s circumstances.
James further warned that immigrant parents applying for green cards could be affected if their U.S.-born children receive state-funded health insurance.
Murad Awawdeh, president and chief executive officer of the New York Immigration Coalition, said some families were already withdrawing their U.S.-born children from public programmes because of concerns about the policy.
He said families were being forced to choose between accessing assistance to feed their children and protecting their immigration status.
She said immigration officers could consider the use of benefits such as Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and school meal programmes when assessing an applicant’s circumstances.
James further warned that immigrant parents applying for green cards could be affected if their U.S.-born children receive state-funded health insurance.
Murad Awawdeh, president and chief executive officer of the New York Immigration Coalition, said some families were already withdrawing their U.S.-born children from public programmes because of concerns about the policy.
He said families were being forced to choose between accessing assistance to feed their children and protecting their immigration status.
Twenty-one other states, including California, Illinois and Colorado, as well as the District of Columbia, joined James’ lawsuit.
A coalition of cities, including Chicago, San Francisco and Santa Clara, also joined Mamdani’s lawsuit.
The public charge rule does not apply to U.S. citizens or asylum seekers.
New York residents seeking free and confidential immigration legal assistance can contact the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Immigration Legal Support Hotline on 1-800-354-0365 or call 311 and say “Immigration Legal.
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