In mid-August, Democratic attorneys general including Pennsylvania’s Josh Shapiro announced they were suing the Trump administration over proposed changes to what’s known as the “public charge rule.”
Since the 19th century, the U.S. has evaluated immigrants to see if they are likely to become dependent on the government for subsistence.
That rule has evolved. Currently, it applies to people seeking a visa or green card, and allows immigration officials to consider a person’s use of state or federal cash assistance, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Supplemental Security Income.
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services finalized a regulation on Aug. 14 that would expand the rule to include use of food stamps, housing assistance, or Medicaid as determining factors. It’s set to go into effect this fall, but is being challenged by multiple lawsuits.
This isn’t the only way the Trump administration’s regulatory actions are touching health and human services here in Pennsylvania. Below, we dig into how this process works. (Read the comprehensive report here)
