Washington Post
Immigrants using food stamps or Medicaid can now be denied green cards
Friday, September 18, 2026
The Department of Homeland Security issued a rule allowing immigration officials to deny green card applications based on an applicant's use of federal benefit programs including food stamps, Medicaid, tuition assistance, and free school lunch programs. Multiple states and cities filed lawsuits challenging the rule. The policy expands the existing "public charge" grounds for inadmissibility, which previously focused on cash assistance and long-term institutional care.
