The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in favor of the Trump Administration in connection with the lawsuit challenging its new public charge rule.
Several individuals, organizations and states including California and New York sued the Trump Administration, alleging that the new public charge is unconstitutional. The plaintiffs also alleged that it was based on racial bias and “disregards clear congressional intent and a century’s worth of case law.”
Under the public charge rule, officials at U.S. embassies and consulates overseas must consider the totality of the circumstances of visa applicants when determining their inadmissibility to the United States. They must ensure that immigrants can support themselves and will not likely use government assistance programs.
Supreme Court’s decision
On Monday, the Supreme Court voted 5-4 allowing the Trump Administration to implement the public charge rule.
In a concurring opinion, Justice Neil Gorsuch joined by Justice Clarence Thomas noted that several district courts ordered the Trump administration to not enforce the new rule. However, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered a stay on the district courts’ order citing the reason that the federal government will likely succeed on the merits. The Second Circuit declined to stay the universal injunction.
