Three federal courts blocked changes on the public charge rule

Three federal courts blocked changes on the public charge rule

“Public Charge” refers to an individual who is likely to become primarily dependent on the government for subsistence and, as we told you last month, some of the rules regarding how a person is considered a Public Charge were going to change starting on October 15, 2019.

Last Friday, October 11, three federal courts blocked these changes, which were seeking to reject Green Cards and visa applications filed by immigrants whom the government determines that are or might become eventually become “Public Charges.”

“Judge George Daniels of the US District Court in Manhattan issued a preliminary nationwide injunction prohibiting the administration from enforcing the so-called ‘public charge’ rule just days before it was slated to take effect on Tuesday”, CBS News reported on October 11.

Two other judges from Washington state and California held the administration “could not enforce the rule within the jurisdiction of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals”, according to the information publishes by CBS News.

Clinic Legal Immigration Network said that “the rule is ‘arbitrary and capricious’ and should be blocked nationwide” and they welcome the decision, which would have dramatically changed the standards by which immigrants would be judged for whether they might rely on public benefits.

“This ruling confirms that the American dream remains open to them,” said Charles Wheeler, CLINIC’s Director of Training and Legal Support.