The White House repeals controversial Trump-era immigration regulations

The rule that allowed denying legal residence to immigrants for having received certain social benefits after arriving in the United States was shot down on Thursday by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS, for its acronym in English).

“This action guarantees fair and humane treatment for legal immigrants and their US citizen family members,” DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement.

The previous regulationimposed under the administration of Republican President Donald Trump, referred to as “public charge” the aid that some immigrants receive at the expense of the American taxpayer when applying for some aid.

Before Trump’s mandate, this rule was subject to the possession of cash or the support of government institutions by the immigrant. However, the Republican government expanded this type of assistance to non-monetary support measures, such as food stamps and health insurance, Medicaid, among others.

The regulation was repeatedly challenged until the government of President Joe Biden stopped applying it in 2021.

“Consistent with our nation’s values, this policy treats all those we serve with fairness and respect,” U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Ur Jaddou was quoted as saying in the same statement.

The suspension of this regulation is a relief for the millions of immigrants seeking legal residence in the US.

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