The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a final rule in the Federal Register which provides clarity for noncitizens on how DHS will administer the public charge ground of inadmissibility.
The Biden administration has restored the understanding of a ‘public charge’ that was in place for decades until the Trump administration began to consider supplemental public health benefits and nutritional assistance as part of the public charge inadmissibility determination.
DHS will no longer consider certain non-cash benefits such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or other nutrition programs, Children’s Health Insurance Program, Medicaid, housing benefits, benefits related to immunizations or testing for diseases, or other supplemental or special-purpose benefits.