Trump’s administration had started implementing the “Public Charge” rule after the Supreme Court had lifted the temporary block issued by a lower-court judge.

According to the new rule, immigrants who had received government support from the past few months are less likely to obtain a green card visa. This will ensure that all immigrants who have applied for U.S. citizenship have the capacity to support themselves and to not be considered as a “public charge” or a government liability.

Based on the new rule, the ideal green card candidate should be younger, self-sufficient, healthier, and English-speaking legal immigrants who had not received government support in the past. This includes any cash benefit, income maintenance, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or what is popularly known as food stamps.

The rule aims to uphold the long-standing tradition of American hard-work and perseverance. It holds on to the belief that “Throughout history, self-reliance has been a core principle in America,” Ken Cuccinelli, the former acting director of USCIS said in a 2019 press conference. “The virtues of perseverance, hard work, and self-sufficiency laid the foundation of our nation and have defined generations of immigrants seeking opportunity in the United States.”

However, the rule faced major backlash from the Democrats. In a Twitter post, Rep. Mark Pocan wrote, “Public charge is racist. Public charge is discriminatory. Public charge is anti-poor people. This administration’s immigration policies will be remembered for what they are: inhumane & hateful.”

“Terrible news, and undoubtedly political opinion,” said Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, an advocate with the American Immigration Council. He also said in a statement with California’s Attorney General Xavier Becerra “This rule harms our children and families in communities across the country. It hurts our economy and the healthcare of so many Californians. We are a nation of immigrants, so we will lean forward in the face of heartless attacks on working families” Contrary to the opposition’s claims that the rule was “racist,” immigrants themselves are in favor of the administration’s new policy. As Breitbart News reported, “When last asked of their support for the rule, 56 percent of Hispanic Americans said they supported favoring self-sufficient legal immigrants for green cards over welfare-dependent legal immigrants, as well as about 6-in-10 of all American voters and 62 percent of all swing voters.”

Most of all, rather than allowing immigrants to milk off the country’s economic opportunities, the new rule will prioritize the American taxpayer, as the country is expected to save an annual $57.4 billion in tax cut. According to the National Academies of Science, American taxpayers pay about $1,600 each year per immigrant to support their welfare. It is also important to note that immigrant households consume 33 percent more cash welfare than American citizen households.

Finally, the new rule will also decrease the competition between native American born citizens and immigrants in terms of finding low-cost housing, education, job opportunities, and government support. As Breitbart News wrote: “Americans’ kids, disabled Americans, and older Americans may also be winners because the rule will likely redirect taxpayers’ support from migrants who are unhealthy, old, and poor.”