Arizona representatives praised and panned along party lines the Trump administration’s rule strengthening the ability of federal officials to deny green cards to immigrants deemed likely to rely on government aid.
Republican Representatives Paul Gosar and Andy Biggs expressed support for the rule, while Democratic Party Representative Raul Grijalva tweeted his opposition.
The “public charge” rule ensures those who are granted permanent residency are self-sufficient, and not a burden on taxpayers.
“The principle driving it is an old American value, and that’s self-sufficiency,” said U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli on Fox News. “It’s a core principle — the American Dream itself — and it’s one of the things that distinguishes us, and it’s central to the legal history in the U.S. back into the 1800s.”
Solid work by @USCISCuccinelli on the public charge rule. Taxpayer funded public assistance should not be an incentive to immigrate to the U.S. and we should not be giving green cards to immigrants who would rely on government welfare.
— Rep. Paul Gosar, DDS (@RepGosar) August 12, 2019
I support the @realDonaldTrump administration’s rule to prevent future welfare use by non-citizens. While we are a nation of compassion, we should not allow access to taxpayer-funded public assistance to be an incentive to immigrate to the U.S. https://t.co/wWKFxlrf9Y
— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) August 13, 2019
This rule will force immigrant families to sacrifice food, shelter, and medical care for the hope of becoming a U.S. citizen. Trump is sending a clear message to immigrants & asylum seekers: If you’re not wealthy, you’re not welcome here. https://t.co/wTx7ZTIPT2 #ProtectFamilies
— Raul M. Grijalva (@RepRaulGrijalva) August 12, 2019