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David-James Gonzales: The problematic history of the ‘public charge’ in immigration law

Earlier this week, acting Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Ken Cuccinelli announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will be implementing a new interpretation of a long-standing provision aimed at deporting legal immigrants deemed by immigration officials as “liable to become a public charge.”

Under the new final rule published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, receiving SNAP benefits (a.k.a. food stamps), most forms of Medicaid, Section 8 Housing Assistance and other federal benefits will count as negative factors in an immigration officer’s consideration of applications for visa renewal, legal permanent residency (a.