“Now, the officers who are reviewing and adjudicating these cases have much more discretion in how they make that determination—whether they believe the person is likely to become a public charge,” says Melissa Shepard, the legal services director at the Immigrant Defenders Law Center. “The difference now is that it’s a much broader analysis, whereas before it was a little more limited.”
Adriana Cadena, the executive director of the Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition, says she worries that, because the new policy is so broad, it “opens the door for abuses by immigration officials” during the green card application process.
“It’s going from having guidance and clarity and understanding to opening the door to any kinds of programs,” she says.
How could the Trump Administration’s new rule affect immigrants?
Immigration experts say that the new policy could result in more green card applications being rejected, as well as cause many immigrants to delay seeking permanent resident status.