The U.S. Supreme Court just handed the administration a powerful new tool to narrow the demographic of people who come to live and work in the country.
The Court TODAY allowed the administration’s policy connecting the use of public benefits with whether immigrants could become permanent residents to take effect. The order came by a 5-4 vote; the four liberal judges would have prevented the policy from taking effect.
Immigrants applying for permanent residency must now show that they wouldn’t be public charges, or burdens to the country. The policy can be used to deny green cards to immigrants over their use of public benefits including food stamps, housing vouchers and Medicaid.
And this ruling could have a major impact on immigrant communities in Florida. According to the U.S. Census, Florida has the second-highest number of legal immigrants behind New York.
It is blatantly obvious that the administration is targeting immigrants who lack financial resources, allowing wealthier immigrants easier access to green cards —the ruling embraces people who have financial means while shunning immigrants who have sought refuge in the U.S. from impoverished places in Central America and Africa.
Vast numbers of immigrants, including those not subject to the new ruling, may drop out of programs they need because they fear retribution by immigration authorities.
