US judges have blocked two recent legal immigration restrictions imposed by Trump administration executive orders.
The first new immigration rule that hit a judicial roadblock was the US Department of Homeland Security’s so-called “wealth test” for green card holders and applicants.
The rule, which had been set to go into effect on October 15, must now wait for a final judicial ruling before it is the law of the land.
The new regulation replaces an older law that mandated that legal immigrants should not receive over half of their income from social programs such as food stamps or supplemental income from social security.
The Trump administration’s replacement tightens the grasp on legal immigrants by stating that they cannot use any public benefits like Medicaid or housing assistance for more than 12 months over a 36-month period.
If a green card holder did do this, immigration officials could then deem them a “public charge” and could revoke their legal permanent residency.
The judge ruled that Trump’s administration went beyond their authority under federal US immigration law.
The other case involved a similar rule requiring immigrants to prove they have health insurance or have the means to secure health insurance within 30 days of entering the US.
The judge ruled that the State Department’s health care mandate is outside the president’s power and is out of line with existing US immigration law.
According to US immigration lawyers in Thailand, the judge’s rulings do not completely end the chances of the laws going into effect, but simply place them in legal limbo for further review by US courts.
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