N.J. joins lawsuit suing DHS over public charge policy

New Jersey joined a coalition of 21 states in a lawsuit against the federal government over a new rule that allows immigration officials to deny green cards to immigrants who use public benefits. The new guidance goes into effect Sep. 18 and rolls back 2022 public charge regulations, which restricted immigration officers from considering the applicant’s use of non-cash public benefits. That includes services like Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The coalition argues that the new policy violates the Administrative Procedure Act and exceeds the Department of Homeland Security’s authority, and the rule does not establish which benefits could affect a green card application. It asks a federal judge to rule the policy unlawful and vacate it.

From New Jersey Globe.