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[Trump Reinstates "Public Charge" Policy: Use of Medicare or Food Stamps Can Block Green Card Applications] (1) The Trump administration reinstated an old rule that allows immigration officials to deny permanent residency to green card applicants who use public benefits such as Medicaid, housing subsidies, or food stamps. The policy aims to regulate how officials use the "public charge" test to determine whether an applicant is likely to rely on government funding. (2) The final rule released Thursday overturned the Biden administration's 2022 policy (which only restricted cash benefits). The new version sets no restrictions—any use of public benefits, along with indicators such as age, education, skills, and health, can be used as a basis for approving green card and entry applications. The new framework will be officially implemented by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in 60 days. (3) A USCIS spokesperson stated that this move aims to "uphold the rule of law" and protect taxpayers, preventing subsidies to foreigners who may rely on public benefits, while also ensuring the safety and financial well-being of the American people. (4) Critics point out that the lack of clear guidelines will lead to officials arbitrarily rejecting applications and hindering immigrants from seeking necessary assistance. The executive director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association stated that the rule effectively punishes U.S. citizens in mixed-status families, as the latter may forgo their legal benefits due to concerns about their relatives' status, thereby harming public health and economic stability. (5) Data shows that about one-fifth of Americans participate in Medicaid, and about 12% receive food stamps; these benefits are only available to legal residents, and immigrants need their state's consent to cover the costs to receive medical assistance. (6) A senior policy advisor at the National Immigration Law Center criticized the move as "weaponizing" the federal government, aiming to spread fear and chaos, with the ultimate goal of reshaping the United States into a country that "only welcomes a minority of white people and the super-rich."