Trump administration plans to deny green cards to immigrants receiving benefits

[Swordsmyth]

The Trump administration has proposed a new rule denying visas and green cards to legal immigrants who are likely to claim government benefits such as food stamps or housing vouchers.
The move could force millions of low-income immigrants to choose between vital support and their hopes of US residency, advocacy groups have warned.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Saturday the planned change would allow officials to disqualify immigrants’ applications based on receipt of federal assistance such as food stamps, Section 8 housing vouchers or Medicare and Medicaid drug subsidies.
Such benefits would be considered “a heavily weighed negative factor” in granting green cards for permanent residency or in issuing visas for temporary stays.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen said the proposed rule would “promote immigrant self-sufficiency and protect finite resources by ensuring that they are not likely to become burdens on American taxpayers.”


According to a report in The New York Times, Donald Trump’s top immigration adviser Stephen Miller has pushed “hard” for the new rule over the past few months.
The DHS plan marks a sharp departure from current guidelines, in place since 1999, which specifically prevent authorities from considering benefits in deciding a person’s eligibility to immigrate to the US or stay in the country.
The new rule would apply to those seeking visas or legal permanent residency, but it would not affect people anyone applying for US citizenship.

More at: https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-adm...131429779.html

[Schifference]

Sounds very sensible.

[Zippyjuan]

Illegal immigrants aren't even eligible for those programs. Legal immigrants must be in the country for at least five years to become eligible.

[Swordsmyth]

Illegal immigrants aren't even eligible for those programs.

But they get them anyway.

Legal immigrants must be in the country for at least five years to become eligible.

They shouldn't ever get them and if they get them they should lose their green cards and be sent home.

[Zippyjuan]

But they get them anyway.


They shouldn't ever get them and if they get them they should lose their green cards and be sent home.

Citizens lie and cheat to get benefits too. Trump's current wife may have been in the country illegally. https://apnews.com/37dc7aef0ce44077930b7436be7bfd0d

[Schifference]

Illegal immigrants aren't even eligible for those programs. Legal immigrants must be in the country for at least five years to become eligible.

After 5 years they are eligible for citizenship. I see no reason why a person would not acquire citizenship ASAP.

[timosman]

After 5 years they are eligible for citizenship. I see no reason why a person would not acquire citizenship ASAP.

Tax liability.

[Swordsmyth]

Citizens lie and cheat to get benefits too.

Then the last thing we need is hordes of foreign parasites to suck us dry of blood.

Trump's wife may have been in the country illegally.

Get back to me when you can prove that.
But even if you do it won't mean we should tolerate illegal immigrants.

[Zippyjuan]

After 5 years they are eligible for citizenship. I see no reason why a person would not acquire citizenship ASAP.

You have to have your green card for five years before you can apply to become a citizen. The process after that can take years- three on average.

[Schifference]

You have to have your green card for five years before you can apply to become a citizen. The process after that can take years- three on average.

I think you are mistaken or things have changed. My wife got her citizenship 5 years to the day. When she got her green card she put it on the calendar and 5 years to the date she had her citizenship.

[Zippyjuan]

I think you are mistaken or things have changed. My wife got her citizenship 5 years to the day. When she got her green card she put it on the calendar and 5 years to the date she had her citizenship.

So you can apply for citizenship while you have the green card? Thanks for the info. This was confusing: https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclope...hip-46704.html

If you are a U.S. permanent or conditional resident—that is, someone with a green card—the basic rule is that you cannot apply for U.S. citizenship (or apply to naturalize) until you have lived in the United States as a lawful permanent resident for at least five years. That means exactly five years, to the day. For example, if you were approved for permanent residence on April 17, 2015, you would be eligible for citizenship on April 17, 2020. Check your green card (permanent resident card) for the exact date on which you became a permanent resident.

Maybe she was under this:

You need to wait a mere three years to apply for U.S. citizenship if, during that time, you have been a permanent (or conditional) resident married to, as well as living with, a U.S. citizen. (See the Immigration and Nationality Act at I.N.A. Section 319(a) or 8 U.S.C. Section 1430(a).) You will need to provide proof that you qualify along with your application.

This exception applies even if you did not get your green card through this marriage. So, for example, you could have gotten a green card through your employer, then married a U.S. citizen soon after, and you still need wait only three years from the date of your marriage to apply for citizenship.

[Philhelm]

You have to have your green card for five years before you can apply to become a citizen. The process after that can take years- three on average.

That's incorrect. An immigrant can naturalize after three years of permanent residency if the status was gained through marriage to a U.S. citizen, or five years for most other permanent residents. It only takes about six months to adjudicate the naturalization application, and the applicant may file 90 days before actually reaching the three or five year mark.

[Philhelm]

After 5 years they are eligible for citizenship. I see no reason why a person would not acquire citizenship ASAP.

There's a lot more to it. Some are classified as immigrants (ex: permanent residents) while others might be classified as nonimmigrants (ex: H-1B). It's not just a matter of how long someone has been in the country, but for how long someone has been in the country as a permanent resident.

[timosman]

That's incorrect. An immigrant can naturalize after three years of permanent residency if the status was gained through marriage to a U.S. citizen, or five years for most other permanent residents. It only takes about six months to adjudicate the naturalization application, and the applicant may file 90 days before actually reaching the three or five year mark.

What is the approval rate? 99.99%?

[Philhelm]

What is the approval rate? 99.99%?

Not quite that high, although it is much smoother sailing at that point in the immigration process. If the immigrant has committed certain crimes it can be a disqualifier, along with failing the (easy) English language test and U.S. civics test.

[devil21]

Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen said the proposed rule would “promote immigrant self-sufficiency and protect finite resources by ensuring that they are not likely to become burdens on American taxpayers.”

Russia just unveiled a missile that we can't defend against! $#@! the women and kids, we need that money to go to Raytheon instead!

Gotta have our burdens prioritized correctly.

[oyarde]

Any immigrant is not eligible ? By drawing benefits they are committing Fraud ? Seems an easy choice to expel those stealing from citizens forced tax funded deadbeat support .