Monday, October 14, 2024

Trump Administration considering proposal that would make it difficult for legal immigrants to become citizens

A proposal being considered by top aides to President Trump would reportedly make it more difficult for legal immigrants to get green cards or become U.S. citizens.

NBC News reports that under the proposal, a creation of senior White House aide Stephen Miller, migrants who have in the past benefited from welfare programs, including Social Security or ObamaCare. The plan also includes restrictions on immigrants who have received public assistance for taking care of disabled family members and children, even if those family members are already U.S. citizens.

A draft of the proposal was already sent by the White House to the Federal Register, NBC reports, the last step before it is published for public comment. The Department of Homeland Security pointed to the Trump administration’s goal of better prioritizing taxpayer funds in a statement to NBC.

“The administration is committed to enforcing existing immigration law, which is clearly intended to protect the American taxpayer by ensuring that foreign nationals seeking to enter or remain in the U.S are self-sufficient,” a spokeswoman said.

In a separate statement, U.S. Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) denied that any new restrictions on green card applications had been implemented, despite claims from attorneys and activists that immigration claims are being denied more often than before.

“Contrary to open borders advocates, immigration attorneys and activists, USCIS has not changed the manner in which applications for naturalization have been adjudicated,” said USCIS spokesman Michael Bars, according to NBC.

THE HILL