In earlier posts, we discussed the Trump Administration’s proposed new rule about denying permanent resident status to applicants who are considered likely to become a “public charge.”
In January 2020, the Supreme Court issued an order that allowed U.S. immigration officials to put the new rules into effect while it is still being challenged in the courts.
In February 2020, USCIS and the U.S. Department of State began to require applicants to follow the new public charge rules.
On April 13, 2020, officials representing New York, along with Vermont and Connecticut, asked the Supreme Court to put the public charge rules on hold until the Coronavirus emergency is over.
In their request, the state officials argued that the public charge rule has the effect of discouraging noncitizens from seeking health care, including testing and treatment for the Coronavirus. Leaving the public charge rule in place at this time “makes it more likely that immigrants will suffer serious illness if infected and spread the virus inadvertently to others—risks that are heightened because immigrants make up a large proportion of the essential workers who continue to interact with the public.”
On April 24, 2020, the Supreme Court denied the requests, but indicated that the petitioners could file motions in the federal district court. It appears that officials representing the state challengers likely will file a motion in district court.