Supreme Court accepts Arizona AG’s petition to defend 2019 Public Charge Rule
Nov 1, 2021, 4:35 AM
PHOENIX — The Supreme Court of the United States agreed Friday to hear Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich’s petition to defend the Public Charge Rule.
The Biden Administration told SCOTUS in March 2021 it would stop enforcing the Trump Administration’s “public charge” rule, which denied green cards to immigrants who use public benefits such as food stamps for more than 12 months over a three-year period.
“The Public Charge Rule is a commonsense immigration policy that ensures people seeking green cards or American citizenship are able to work and financially support themselves,” Brnovich said.
“If we fail to enforce this rule, which has existed in some form for over 100 years, our emergency assistance programs may no longer be there when Americans need them most.”
Brnovich said in an earlier statement that it’s been estimated the Public Charge Rule would save states $1.01 billion annually in direct payments.
Increasing the number of Medicaid participants, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families programs and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients would strain the already over-stretched state assistance programs, the statement said.
Further, Arizona and other states will save money that would otherwise fund administrative costs for those who depend on the programs.
A date for arguments to be held has yet to be set.
