States sue Trump administration over new public charge rule

More than 20 states and Washington, D.C., have filed suit to block a new Department of Homeland Security rule that would give immigration officials broader discretion in deciding whether visa or green card applicants are likely to become dependent on public benefits. The rule, scheduled to take effect on Friday, would let officers consider a wider range of meanstested assistance, including Medicaid, SNAP, and school meal programs, when making public charge determinations. New York Attorney General Letitia James and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani are leading separate legal challenges, arguing the policy could discourage eligible families from seeking assistance and create confusion for applicants. The states say DHS exceeded its authority by expanding the standard without clear direction from Congress and that the rule could lead to arbitrary denials. The administration has not commented publicly in time for publication, and the lawsuits ask courts to block enforcement of the rule.