US States, cities sue to block new immigration rule

Dozens of Democratic-led U.S. states, counties and cities sued President Donald Trump's administration on Monday to block a new rule that would allow immigration officials to deny green cards to people who use public benefits such as food stamps and Medicaid.



In two law suits filed in Manhattan federal court, the states and local governments challenged a federal rule set to take effect on Friday that says people applying to become lawful permanent residents should not be "public charges" who are primarily dependent on government benefits.



The Department of Homeland Security rule was announced in July.



It revives a policy adopted in 2019 during the Republican president's first term in office that was abandoned under Democratic President Joe Biden's administration, which in 2022 adopted a narrower definition of who would be a "public charge."



Asked about the lawsuits, a DHS spokesperson in a statement called the plaintiffs "sanctuary states" and "left-wing leaders" who were "terrified they will lose federal funds because hundreds of thousands of illegals and noncitizens might remove themselves from American welfare programs."