DHS Implements Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds Final Rule Release Date: Feb. 24, 2020 WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Homeland Security today implemented the Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds final rule. Under the final rule, DHS will look at the factors required under the law by Congress, like an alien’s age, health, family status, assets, resources, and financial status, education and skills, among others, in order to determine whether the alien is likely at any time to become a public charge. The rule now applies nationwide, including in Illinois. Self-sufficiency is a long-standing principle of immigration law. Since the 1800s, inadmissibility based on public charge has been a part of immigration law. Since 1996, federal laws have stated that aliens seeking to come to or remain in the United States, temporarily or permanently, must be self-sufficient and rely on their own capabilities and the resources of family, friends, and private organizations instead of public benefits. “President Trump continues to deliver on his promise to the American people to enforce our nation’s immigration laws. After several judicial victories, DHS will finally begin implementing the Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds final rule,” said Ken Cuccinelli, the acting deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. “This rule enforces longstanding law requiring aliens to be self-sufficient, reaffirming the American ideals of hard work, perseverance and determination. It also offers clarity and expectations to aliens considering a life in the United States and will help protect our public benefit programs.” The final rule defines “public charge” as an alien who has received one or more public benefits (as defined in the rule) for more than 12 months, in total, within any 36-month period. The final rule defines “public benefits” to include any cash benefits for income maintenance, Supplemental Security Income, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, most forms of Medicaid and certain housing programs. Applicants for adjustment of status who are subject to the final rule must show that they are not likely at any time to become a public charge by submitting a Form I-944, Declaration of Self-Sufficiency, when they file their Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. To determine whether an alien is inadmissible on the public charge grounds, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will not consider, and applicants and petitioners do not need to report, the application for, certification or approval to receive, or receipt of certain previously excluded non-cash public benefits (such as SNAP, most forms of Medicaid, and public housing) before Feb. 24, 2020. Similarly, USCIS will not consider as a heavily weighted negative factor receipt of previously included public benefits (such as SSI and TANF) before Feb. 24, 2020, in a public charge inadmissibility determination. The final rule requires most aliens seeking to extend their nonimmigrant stay or change their nonimmigrant status to show that, since obtaining the nonimmigrant status they seek to extend or change, they have not received public benefits (as defined in the final rule) for more than 12 months, in total, within any 36-month period beginning Oct. 15, 2019. Due to litigation-related delays in the final rule’s implementation, DHS is applying this requirement as though it refers to Feb. 24, 2020 rather than Oct. 15, 2019. Therefore, with respect to applying the public benefits condition to applications and petitions for extension of nonimmigrant stay and change of nonimmigrant status, DHS will not consider, and applicants and petitioners need not report an alien’s receipt of any public benefits before Feb. 24, 2020. Certain classes of aliens are exempt from the public charge ground of inadmissibility (such as refugees, asylees, certain VAWA self-petitioners, U petitioners, and T applicants) and therefore, are not subject to the final rule. After today, USCIS will reject prior editions of affected forms, including in Illinois where the rule remained enjoined until Feb. 21, 2020, when the U.S. Supreme Court granted a stay of the statewide injunction. If USCIS receives an application or petition for immigration benefits using prior editions of the forms postmarked on or after Feb. 24, 2020, then USCIS will inform the applicant or petitioner of the need to submit a new application or petition using the correct forms. For applications and petitions that are sent by commercial courier (such as UPS, FedEx and DHL), the postmark date is the date reflected on the courier receipt. For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), Instagram (/uscis), YouTube (/uscis), Facebook (/uscis) and LinkedIn (/uscis). Source: https://www.uscis.gov/news/all-news/dhs-implements-inadmissibility-public-charge-grounds-final-rule 2/22/2020 (World Journal) 編譯黃秀媛  川普政府不准造成公共負擔的移民入境，24日開始實施。圖為來自各國的移民宣誓入籍。(Getty Images) 聯邦最高法院21日晚上排除川普政府向移民施行「財富檢驗」的最後障礙，讓美國更容易拒絕可能成為「公共負擔」的移民入境或居留。負責處理綠卡和入籍申請的公民及移民服務局立刻通告：24日開始施行新法規。 根據新政策，已在美國合法居留的移民如經常使用醫療補助(Medicaid)、糧食券或住房補助之類的公共福利，或被認定日後可能仰賴這些福利，將列為可能的公共負擔。 雖然這種政策還在較下級法院打官司，可是大法官以五票對四票做成裁決，推翻阻止新標準生效的最後一項司法命令。 批評者指責，新法規將對來自非英語國家的貧窮移民造成負擔。  醫療補助（Medicaid，也稱白卡）屬於公共福利之一。（歐新社） 最高法院的裁決推翻一名法官禁止政府在伊利諾州施行新標準的禁制令。大法官上個月也以五票對四票，推翻紐約一名法官禁止在美國其他地方施行新規定的禁制令。 四名自由派大法官，在這兩項表決中都投反對派。 新的聯邦法規為哪些人可能成為仰賴政府福利的「公共負擔」建立新的標準，使他們無法獲得綠卡和入籍；這項計畫原定去年10月開始施行，可是因較低級法院阻止而拖延至今。 新標準也為移民官審核綠卡申請提供應考慮的「正面」和「負面」因素，負面因素包括當事人失業、沒有唸完高中，或英文不好等。 反對者辯稱懲罰需要財務協助的合法移民，會危害移民家庭的健康和安全，包括在美國出生並擁有美國公民權的孩子，也可能對州和地方政府、企業、醫院、糧食銀行造成數百萬元計的緊急醫療開支和其他費用。  各種形式的糧食券都屬於公共福利之一。(Getty Images) 新法規一出就在全國各地引發官司，一些地區法官也下達了全國禁制令。川普政府提出反對，而大法官戈薩奇在上個月的裁決中表示，全國禁制令已經失控。 他說，正如本案所顯示，動不動就發布全面禁制令根本不可行，對兩造、政府、法庭，以及所有受到這些互相牴觸裁決影響的人製造混亂。 但是，大法官薩多馬友反對這種說法，並批評保守派大法官迎合缺乏耐心的政府，阻止正常的法庭程序進行。  川普政府不准造成公共負擔的移民入境，24日開始實施。(Getty Images) 9/30/2018 (World Journal) 編譯黃秀媛  美國為防堵新移民濫用福利，10月1日起實施更嚴厲規則，圖為美墨邊境大批入境者排隊等候進入美國。（美聯社） 濫領福利者除無法領取綠卡外，更有可能遭遞解。移民及海關執法局突擊遞解非法移民。（ICE發布）川普政府10月1日開始施行新準則，擴大移民可能受傳喚向移民法官報到，以展開驅逐程序的理由，包括合法移民如違反有關「接受公共福利」的聯邦或州政府計畫，可能被遞解出境。 「邁阿密前鋒報」報導，聯邦公民及移民服務局(USCIS)7月間宣布新的驅逐理由清單，讓移民官對核發出庭通知 (Notice to Appear，NTA) 擁有更大的裁量權。 NTA是用於指示非美國公民向移民法庭報到，長久以來代表展開驅逐程序。 從10月1日開始，USCIS將能對範圍更廣泛的案例發出NTA，包括涉及詐欺、刑事活動，或是申請移民福利被拒，因此失去留在美國的合法地位的外國人。 USCIS的政策備忘錄說，新政策是配合川普總統的行政命令，以加強公共安全，並把驅逐美國境內的外國人列為優先事項。 USCIS局長西斯納說，USCIS人員長久以來在發現詐欺或刑事活動後，能夠協助確保美國移民法獲得忠實執行的能力一直受到限制。 他說，新程序賦予移民官更多裁量權，並提供「他們需要和應有的明確準則，以執行總統建立的執法優先事項、維護社區安全，以及保護我們的移民體制免於受到存心加以利用的人破壞」。 政府26日對執行新的NTA政策發布消息，指出USCIS將向居留身分受到影響的申請人發出拒絕信，以確保申請福利被拒時，申請人能夠獲得適當通知。 USCIS說，新準則是為了加強國土安全部的執法優先事項。國安部上周公開提議，禁止領取某些公共福利的移民獲得永久居留權或綠卡。 根據新準則，USCIS裁決者必須對下列情況發出NTA： ●詐欺或撒謊獲得證實。 ●移民濫用某些他們可以獲得的公共福利。 ●移民被控刑事罪行或被定罪，即使犯罪行動並非申請被拒的理由。 ●在向USCIS申請移民資格的要求裁定之前，USCIS可不發出NTA即把涉及嚴重罪行的案子轉移給移民及海關執法局 (ICE)。 ●USCIS因當事人有犯罪前科以品格問題拒絕其入籍申請。 ●在申請或上訴被拒時，申請人非法留在美國。 USCIS在26日也發布聲明，將繼續優先驅逐有犯罪前科、詐欺或造成國家安全問題的人。  為防止新移民成為美國的負擔，國安部10月1日起實施新規，濫領福利者除無法領取綠卡外，更有可能遭遞解。圖為新移民舉著小國旗宣誓入籍。（美聯社） 濫領福利移民除無法領取綠卡外，更有可能遭遞解。加州已經開始審核醫療補助申請者。（美聯社）9/22/2018 (World Journal) 編譯黃秀媛 川普政府22日宣布，它將提出法規，使合法使用糧食券、房屋補助或醫療補助(Medicaid)等公共福利的移民，更難獲得綠卡，以排除消耗美國資源的外國人。 川普政府的提議尖銳背離現行準則，並適用於申請簽證或綠卡的人，可是不影響申請入籍。 此舉可能迫使數以百萬計仰賴公共糧食和住房援助的貧窮移民，在接受財務援助，以及尋求綠卡以在美國合法居住和工作之間，做困難抉擇。 年老移民也可能被迫退出聯邦醫療保險(Medicare)處方藥計畫(Part D)，以免被視為公共負擔而無法獲得合法居留地位。許多年紀較大移民經由這種很受歡迎的藥物福利計畫，獲得價格低廉的處方藥。  Global Leaders in Math Education  APLUS教学中心 | 一对一辅导服务中心 | 申请咨询顾问中心 新法規將影響尋求永久移民美國的人，以及持臨時簽證來到美國，可是尋求長久居留的學生和勞工等人。 新提議無意影響已擁有綠卡的大部分移民，可是維權者擔心這些人會停止使用公共福利以免失去綠卡。 政府表示新法規每年將影響大約38萬2000人。 聯邦法長久以來規定尋求綠卡的人，必須證明他們不會成為公共負擔，審核程序也會考慮當事人是否獲得現金福利。但是，政府以前從未把糧食券等公共福利列入考量。 國土安全部擬議的新法規，規定移民官在審核綠卡申請案時，必須把使用公共福利視為「重大不利因素」，根據當事人是否曾領取他們依法可以獲得的各種公共福利，決定他們是否可能成為公共負擔。 可能仰賴政府援助的人，申請綠卡可能被拒。不過，一些有限案件的移民可能被要求提供至少1萬元現金保證，以免申請被駁回。 新法規不需國會通過，可是仍需經過公共評論程序，並可望未來數周在「聯邦公報」公布，接受60天公開評論。然後政府將考慮這些評論，據以修改和擬定最後法規，因此可能還得再等幾個月才能頒布施行。 國安部說，新法規將確保尋求進入美國暫時或長久居留的人，能夠財務自足，不會仰賴公共福利。不過，所得在官方貧窮標準15%以下的移民家庭不受新法影響。 美國移民法早就規定不得向可能成為公共負擔的外國人提供綠卡，可是1999年訂定的聯邦準則，把「公共負擔」狹隘的定義為經由直接現金援助或政府資助的長期照顧，「主要仰賴政府過活」的人。 這種準則明白禁止在決定移民或居留資格時，考慮糧食券之類的非現金福利。 國安部長尼爾森說，擬議的法規將執行國會為促進移民自給自足所通過的法律，並確保他們不會成為美國納稅人的負擔，以保護有限的公共資源。 移民維權人士批評這種計畫有意繞過國會減少合法移民，也會使移民不敢使用他們或子女有權利獲得的保健或糧食援助，影響公共健康。 9/22/2018 Trump Administration Targets Immigrants on Public Assistance  The change would broaden the framework the U.S. considers when deciding status and entry for immigrants who are likely to receive public benefits such as nutrition assistance, low income housing subsidies and Medicaid. PHOTO: ROBERT F. BUKATY/ASSOCIATED PRESS By Stephanie Armour Legal immigrants who use or appear likely to tap public assistance programs could find it harder to come to the U.S. or stay permanently under a Trump administration proposal released Saturday. Legal immigrants could be denied a green card, which grants permanent residency, if they have received certain government assistance which they were legally allowed to access. About 27 million people live in families that have received benefits and had at least one immigrant family member, according to a June analysis by the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank in Washington. The proposal released by the Department of Homeland Security shows President Donald Trump is not backing off tightening immigration despite a backlash and court action over some policies, including the separation this summer of children and parents entering the country illegally. Conservatives have cheered the new proposal, which was first floated last year, as necessary to prevent immigrants from becoming a drain on public services such as Medicaid and food stamps. Democrats and immigrant rights groups argue the rule would punish people who are entitled to benefits and legally live in the U.S. The proposed rule must still be finalized following 60 days for public comment. Certain groups, including refugees, would be exempt. The change would broaden the framework the U.S. considers when deciding status and entry for immigrants who are likely to receive public benefits such as nutrition assistance, low income housing subsidies and Medicaid above a specific threshold, according to the information released Saturday. “Under long-standing federal law, those seeking to immigrate to the United States must show they can support themselves financially,” DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen in a statement. She added that “This proposed rule will implement a law passed by Congress intended to promote immigrant self-sufficiency and protect finite resources by ensuring that they are not likely to become burdens on American taxpayers.” “Building on the traumatic separation of families at the border, the Trump administration has taken another cruel step,” Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center, said Saturday in a statement. “This proposed rule change will similarly result in the separation of families and is just the latest assault on immigrant families.” |    Principal,  Tel: (301)906-6889; (240)912-6290 Licensed in MD, VA, DC, PA WeChat ID: sunnychenyuqing NMLS # 1220187 President, Principal Loan Consultant, Leader Funding, Inc.  电话: (240) 784-6645 Rockville, MD Phone: 301-366-3497 |
