WASHINGTON: The Trump administration finalized a broader US public charge rule on Monday. The rule gives immigration officers greater discretion to deny green cards to applicants deemed likely to depend on public assistance.
The Department of Homeland Security published the regulation on July 20, 2026. It will take effect on September 18. This rule will replace the narrower public-charge framework introduced under former President Joe Biden in 2022.
The rule requires officers to make individual, fact-specific decisions after reviewing the totality of an applicant’s circumstances. It does not automatically reject anyone solely because they received a public benefit.
The regulation also does not list specific assistance programmes by name. However, benefits considered during public-charge assessments could include Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food aid and housing vouchers.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said the policy restores the requirement that immigrants seeking permanent residence demonstrate self-reliance. In addition, they must avoid becoming primarily dependent on taxpayer-funded assistance.
The Trump administration first implemented a stricter public-charge policy in February 2020. The Biden administration later reversed it, excluding most non-cash benefits from immigration officers’ assessments.
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Immigration advocates have criticised the revived policy as a “wealth test.” They said its broad discretion could deter eligible immigrants. Furthermore, it could deter members of mixed-status families from using healthcare, food and housing programmes
