States and cities sue Trump administration over policy restricting green card benefits

During Donald Trump’s first term, he attempted to impose a similar policy that widened the number of categories immigration officers could consider, including Medicaid, food stamps and housing vouchers. Photograph: Stephanie Scarbrough/AP

A coalition of 22 states and the District of Columbia sued the Trump administration on Monday over a new policy that would allow individual immigration officers to deny green cards based on use of public benefits.

The new policy changes a long-established “public charge” rule, which dates back to the Immigration Act of 1882, established to ensure that newcomers to the country would be able to provide for themselves without relying on governmental benefits.