What if you are a green card holder and you want to apply for an?
Q: What if you are a green card holder and you want to apply for an American citizen but you are collecting public assistance like food stamps and medical, could it affect your application especially with Trump administration? This is question posted many times already, with different reiterations. Short Answer:If you are a valid Green Card holder then you already have legal lawful permanent resident status (LPR), and are eligible to apply for citizenship, even if you have accessed public benefits. The rule is not retroactive. Longer Answer:Nothing has changed the public charge law in this country, which despite all the media hoopla, has been in effect since Ellis Island was used as an entry point to this country. It is a rule similar to most of those pertaining to immigration into developed nations. The Public Charge doctrine was intended to preserve a flow of qualified, capable immigrants. Originally, no one was considered landed until economic, medical, and mental tests were completed and passed.Ellis Island History (pg 91) It still is an important component in the immigration laws of this country:Throughout our history, self-sufficiency has been a core tenet of the American dream. Self-reliance, industriousness, and perseverance laid the foundation of our nation and have defined generations of hardworking immigrants seeking opportunity in the United States ever since. Through the enforcement of the public charge inadmissibility law, we will promote these long-standing ideals, and immigrant success. (USCIS Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli) Note the statement above mentions enforcement, not enactmentrecognizing that past administrations (both Democratic and Republican) have long ignored enforcement for major portions of US Immigration laws. So whats the latest change? DHS has now defined "public charge" for enforcement purposes, given that there are so many more Government benefits now available, IE, food stamps, housing assistance, and Medicaid than in the past. But what media keeps getting WRONG is how this rule impacts people already here. Nearly every media description of the rule erroneously says that it will penalize or block "immigrants" from accessing welfare benefits. Wrong. For one, there are numerous exemptions to this rule: DACA, Humanitarian Category applicants, Green Card holders (immigrants), and those with Permanent Resident visas (LPRs) are exempt. As are asylees, refugees and victims of crime or traffickingwho can still qualify for public benefits under certain conditions.In addition, some states have allowed immigrants to receive state-funded assistance. Secondly, this rule is not going to have much of an impact on the total of people admitted into this countrywhich is about one million immigrants per year.Half of those are admitted in categories with pre-set quotas that have long waiting lists of applicants. If an applicant in one of those categories is denied on public charge grounds, then the next person in line who is qualified will take their place. (Center for Immigration Studies) (As an aside, so many naturally born Americans bad-mouth this countryfinding fault with just about everything. And yet, there are years long waiting lists with those wanting to become part of this nation, even though its reported in media as racist, white-nationalistic, overly-religious, wealth gapped, environmentally ignorant, tribalistic, hedonistic, misogynist, homophobic, etc.So why do they still try to come here?)