U.S. Federal Court has pulled the brakes on President Donald Trump’s “public charge” policy that seeks to bar poor immigrants from living in the country.
Under the rule, which has two versions, immigrants cannot get green cards or visas if immigration officials establish they would depend on public benefits like food stamps.
In two rulings on Thursday, Justice George Daniels of the district court in New York, ordered the administration to suspend the rule due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Noting the additional risk posed by the virus, Daniels specifically ordered the rule be put on hold for immigrants residing legally in the U.S. until the end of the COVID-19 crisis.
In spite of legal challenges, the Trump administration has been trying to expand the policy to Medicaid and certain housing benefits.
The version pertaining to permanent residency is being implemented by Department of Homeland Security which started in February, while the Department of State enforces the part that applies to visa applicants.
In March, the Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a notice explaining that immigrants seeking treatment for coronavirus would not be affected.
But the judge dismissed the clarification as “plainly insufficient”, noting that confusion might arise if Medicaid was used for treatment of illnesses in addition to coronavirus.
Judge Daniel wrote in his order, “This chilling effect, in turn, undoubtedly hampers efforts to contain the virus and protect the public health of residents across the country”.
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