More than a dozen states, along with the District of Columbia, are challenging the federal government’s Public Charge rule that a leading advocate said could hurt immigrant seniors.
Washington, Virginia, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico and Rhode Island filed a lawsuit challenging the rule last week, according to a report by Inside Health Policy.
The lawsuit claims the Department of Homeland Security failed to provide its reasoning or consider any opposition against the rule change. The states also claim the rule doesn’t promote self-sufficiency for immigrants.
California, Pennsylvania, Maine, Oregon and the District of Columbia have filed one, as well, according to the report. That lawsuit also argues the rule could cause immigrant families to disenroll from public programs.
The federal government recently published an amended Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds Final rule, which targets poor, legal immigrants who are seeking to become permanent U.S. citizens.
Set to take effect in October, the rule would allow the government to base green card decisions on whether that immigrant could later be seen as a financial burden on taxpayers. For example, an immigrant could be denied a green card for receiving Medicaid and other public benefits.
The National Council on Aging recently warned that the rule could force immigrant seniors to choose between long-term care services or losing their immigration status, and decimate the home care workforce.
