The Trump Public Charge Rule Strikes Back

The Trump administration is resurrecting and expanding some of the more burdensome requirements it placed on green card applications filed under Trump 1.0.

In a yet to be published Department of State memo, the agency is expanding the reasons it may deny an individual's green card application based on the public charge ground of inadmissibility. The memo will give officers broader authority to deny applications based on health conditions, education, financial circumstances, and other factors.

This memo will apply to individuals applying for green cards under the immigrant visa application process at US embassies. However, there is a rule proposal (also not, yet, published) that may similarly expand these potential grounds of deniability to green card applications filed under the adjustment of status process (I-485) with USCIS.