SCOTUS allows Trump’s ‘public charge’ rule to stay in place

In a 5-4 vote, the Supreme Court yesterday allowed the Trump administration to leave in place a rule that would connect the use of public benefits with the likelihood of being granted permanent residency status. The “public charge” rule was first announced last August, and immigrants could be denied a green card if they used public benefits such as food stamps, Medicaid, or Medicare for more than a year over a three-year period. The rule had been blocked from going into effect by several federal judges, but the Supreme Court’s move now means that those applying for a green card have to show they are self-sufficient. The new rule throws the immigration status of several thousand legal immigrants in jeopardy, and could keep undocumented immigrants from seeking preventive care, including essential vaccinations.