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Judge Blocks Green Card Denials for Poorer Immigrants

Associated Press

   NEW YORK - A federal judge in New York on Friday temporarily blocked
   President Donald Trump from implementing a plan to deny green cards to
   many immigrants who use Medicaid, food stamps and other government
   benefits.
   U.S. District Judge George Daniels' ruling came just four days before
   the Trump administration was set to start enforcing new rules that
   would disqualify immigrants from getting legal U.S. residency if they
   were likely to become a burden on public welfare programs.
   In his ruling, Daniels said Trump was redefining immigration rules that
   had stood since the late 1800s with a new framework that had "no
   logic."
   Allowing the policy to go into effect now, he said, would have a
   significant impact on "law-abiding residents who have come to this
   country to seek a better life."
   "Overnight, the rule will expose individuals to economic insecurity,
   health instability, denial of their path to citizenship and potential
   deportation," Daniels wrote. "It is a rule that will punish individuals
   for their receipt of benefits provided by ourgovernment, anddiscourages
   them from lawfully receiving available assistance intended to aid them
   in becoming contributing members of society."

   Ruling in California
   Almost simultaneously, a federal judge in California also blocked the
   policy from taking effect, but that order was more geographically
   limited to states involved in the case: California, Oregon,
   MaineandPennsylvania, plus theDistrict of Columbia.
   The U.S. Justice Department, which was defending the administration's
   policy in court, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on
   the ruling.
   The lawsuit in New York is one of several legal challenges nationwide
   to one of Trump's most aggressive steps to cut legal
   immigration.Immigration advocates say the rule changes are
   discriminatory because they would deny legal residency and visas to
   immigrants who don't have money.The Trump administration has said the
   rules would ensure that immigrants who are granted residency are
   self-sufficient.

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