Last week, President Donald Trump officially announced that his administration is looking to revive one of the oldest and most sensible ideas in immigration law: the Public Charge rule. That rule quite simply says that if you come to this country, you should be able to support yourself without mooching off the American taxpayer.
Under the proposed rule, immigration officials can deny a green card if an applicant has received – or is likely at any time to receive – welfare benefits. Food stamps, public housing, and Medicaid all count.
In other words, the Trump administration is making it clear that anyone whose vision of the American Dream begins with taxpayer-funded welfare won’t be receiving a green card anytime soon. America is the land of opportunity – just not the opportunity to become a permanent government dependent.
The White House estimates taxpayers could save a whopping $9 billion a year as thousands of non-citizens stop using welfare programs so they are not deported or denied permanent residency. As AMAC Newsline has reported, migrant welfare fraud has become a severe crisis in cities like Minneapolis, where evidence has emerged that Somali communities are funneling billions in fraudulent welfare payments back to Somalia – some of which is falling into the hands of the terrorist group Al-Shabaab.
Democrats, of course, are wailing in the streets at the mere thought of new arrivals having to pay for their own stuff. They shriek that this rule will unleash mass starvation, plagues of locusts, and possibly make the Statue of Liberty burst into tears.
But while liberals pretend that the new rule is some new deranged punishment cooked up by Trump’s evil henchmen, the truth is that the Public Charge doctrine has been a part of American law for centuries. In fact, it’s older than the United States itself.
The early American colonists, with their Protestant work ethic, had no tolerance for those who indulged in the sin of idleness. In the 1600s, colonial governments adopted British “poor laws,” which barred the entry of anyone who could not support themselves financially. Over the next two centuries, thousands of European immigrants were permanently deported from the colonies under these laws.
In the 1880s, Congress formalized the Public Charge doctrine by declaring that any immigrant “unable to take care of himself or herself without becoming a public charge” could be denied entry. A few years later, the Immigration Act of 1891 reaffirmed that paupers, beggars, and others “likely to become a public charge” were inadmissible. It wasn’t until the modern era that liberals decided the Land of the Free should become the Land of the Free Handouts.
For most of the 20th century, the Public Charge rule stayed on the books but was narrowly applied and rarely enforced. But in 2019, Trump finally restored the rule to something that resembled its intended purpose. Under Trump’s reforms, immigrants could be denied permanent residency if they were likely to receive public benefits for more than 12 months in any three-year period.
Of course, Joe Biden gutted the rule because to Democrats, requiring immigrants to work and contribute to the economy rather than take from it is cruel and unusual punishment.
But now the grown-ups are back in charge, and the left’s outrage is as predictable as it is performative. Immigration activists complain that 75 percent of illegal aliens are now scared to work in the United States (which is illegal) or to seek taxpayer-funded medical care (also illegal). Apparently, the worst thing that can happen in 2025 is not that millions of illegal aliens steal benefits that they have no right to, but that they might hesitate to do so.
Immigration is a privilege, not an entitlement. When someone applies to join this country, the burden is on them to prove they will add to America’s strength, not drain it. Every country has a right to be selective about who it admits, and “self-sufficient” is a perfectly reasonable standard. Only liberals and the professional grievance industry pretend otherwise.
The Public Charge rule draws a bright line between common sense and the insanity of the left. When critics say the rule will “scare people away” from using benefits, they accidentally make the best argument for it. That’s the point. We don’t want people who just arrived here and haven’t contributed a dime using our tax dollars. We already have enough Americans in need (most of them also casualties of “compassionate” Democrat policies). We don’t need to import any more.
Here’s the reality that terrifies the left: the Public Charge rule is wildly popular. Normal Americans actually prefer an immigration system that rewards work, ambition, and self-sufficiency. Imagine that.
The debate boils down to the fact that progressives believe immigration is a charity program and the U.S. owes citizenship and lifelong taxpayer-funded support to anyone who wants it. Conservatives believe immigration is a contract – if you want to join this country, bring something to the table besides an open hand.
Trump’s reinstatement of the Public Charge rule is nothing more than a return to that contract. We’re not abandoning compassion; we’re abandoning stupidity. America is generous. America is welcoming. But America is not the world’s ATM.
If that’s too harsh for progressives, they’re welcome to fund their own private sanctuary city. The rest of the world isn’t entitled to handouts from American taxpayers – and if that offends the left, there are 192 other countries to choose from.
Mike Marlowe is the pen name of a writer based in Texas.
And once the Democrats regain control, everything will go to pot again. Watch the NYC situation to see how things will be handled — more debt to NYC and NY. The nation is on the fence at this time — either regain integrity and saneness or lose freedom forever.
Not only STOP the Handouts but REQUIRE Assimilation to the U.S.A. way of life!!!
Bravo———-AMERICANS FIRST, stop the Marxist Democrats from ruining our great country.
WHEN my great grandparents came to America, they had to prove they could support themselves, or had a relative already here that would support them! That’s the way it WAS, and the way it still should be!!!
Another great idea. Now Trump needs to revoke citizenships from, and ban all American freeloadering parasites.
I have a Filipino sister-in-law who came here legally. She worked and contributed, and learned the language and the history of the US. I am proud to say she became a US citizen and still works and keeps her house. She is the person we want to have immigrate to the US. She is proud to have become a US citizen.
GREAT ARTICLE. I would like to post it world wide!
Absolutely the best article I’ve read today, and I’ve read a lot this morning!! Thanks be to God for a REAL President, Donald J. Trump! ????????
When we adopted a baby from El Savador in the 1980s, we had to prove we would not claim any welfare benefits…AND we had to have our fingerprints cleared by the FBI!
Let’s go farther. If you are a migrant already here taking any kind of assistance, you get deported now. If you want to come here, you must prove you have a skill we need or you cannot come.
Anyone who has investigated what it takes to become a citizen of another country knows that most countries have strict rules and one of them is that you must prove you have a certain amount on cash on hand. Last time I checked France, you had to have sufficient funds or a way to have enough via job or wealth to support you and your family, you have to be able to speak French fairly well, you must exhibit that you are taking steps to assimilate into their culture. You have to have lived there 5 years or have a legal resident permit and lots of other requirements as well. You can find it on Google. There is no way we require any of this from these illegal aliens we are dealing with because of the Biden cabal. Get them out and close the border til the backlog of real people wanting to become citizens is dealt with. That is common sense if you want a sane, stable society of good citizens.
Yes! I’m in Agreement with Trump! Get rid of the Moochers! So sick of illegal aliens taking my kids and grandkids rights and future.
President is only following the law, as should every congressman or senator or every citizen for that matter, but now we have the law according to the lawless that represent us. It is their new religion that guides them. Deception, coercion and force, that is being forced on the nation, they of course are exempt from their rules. Not really different from any dictatorship. God bless Donald Trump.
America the land of milk and honey. People who come here as a legal immigrant can’t become dependent on thr state. We arrived in 1959. On an immigration visa which led to permanent residency and a green card. For the next 5 years we were not allowed to get food stamps or health care. We had a sponsor who was responsible for us if we needed these things. We were vetted, physically checked out, pledge allegiance to the United States paid a fee for the visa and paid our own transportation cost. We never voted anywhere. We never became dependent on the government. Even when we were down to our last 50 dollars and my husband had no job. We came here to live here to assimilate and enjoy the freedoms America provided. The progressives have restricted these freedoms to their citizens and gave them to the illegals. No country in the world treats these interlopers like the Biden administration. Criminal after criminal they let in. When asked if they all have been vetted Psaki stands at the podium and lies again and again. And now we have many many American citizens dead. The latest a 20 year old national guard member. The democrats are responsible for her death and all the others. They say it’s President Trumps fault for sending in the National guard. I say no it is thr left who allowed these murderers to roam our streets and kill the citizens. If these criminals had been vetted and came here legally we wouldn’t have a need for the National guard in the streets. The Biden regime started this war For allowing 30 million people into America in 4 years is a scandal beyond the pale. It’s a coup. It never works giving people money. You take their incentive away and create entitlements. We saw that with the shutdown. SNAP beneficiaries were screaming I need my 4,000 dollar a month benefit. I need my brand new 2024 Mercedes SUV. While the poor citizens among us keep suffering in menial jobs and no SNAP benefits. We have always worked hard paid our taxes and paid to become American citizens Even that can be compensated by the government. Heck they will even provide interpreters and give the test in your native language. I never understood that. I still don’t understand why everything is in English and every other language in the world just by asking. Learn the language or go home. Coming to America to find riches is not emigrating that is grazing the country bare and then leave. You have to come here because you want to be here. You like what the country represents. It does not represent you taking and giving nothing back. America does not owe a living to every person that comes here. They owe the living to themselves. But first come here legally. Not swarming the border by the millions and walking into this country like ants on a pile of sugar. The land of milk and honey is running out of milk and honey.
Aliens need to be stopped at the border. No skill or prospect of working then they should be turned away from entry. They should also be turned away with they will obviously not assimilate. America can not accept immigrants who want to bring their lifestyle and culture with them rather than become America.
This should be made where the democrats can not change this. We voters have got to make sure democrats dont get back in charge unless they go back to the ways they used to be. These new democrats dont belong in our government with their socialism beliefs. I beg you voters keep our AMERICA LOVING officials in our government. #KEEP AMERICA GREAT ALWAYS
It is WAY ABOUT TIME that this former law was enacted. This country has become a cesspool of criminals who know exactly how to skim from every money pot this crazy government has set up! If they didn’t know it, they quickly find out when they enter this country and get handed everything on a silver platter and then quickly find out how much more they can get too. Let the Clinton, Biden and Obama crook families get together and buy an island for themselves where they can all be “royalty” and let illegals flock to their country. They can give away all the money THEY STOLE FROM AMERICA and were GIVEN BY CHINA to spy on Americans and they will all lord it over their subjects on their very special island. Good riddance to free food, free credit cards, free phones, free housing, free transportation, free monthly help with paying bills, etc. WORK ETHICS work in America. Don’t like it? Go back to the country you came from and see how far you get trying to get free stuff for life there. AND, YES, THANK YOU AGAIN AND AGAIN DJT!
When are we going to make English the official language of the USA? When are anchor babies going to be done away with?
I was taught about the Public Charge rule in Elementary School It’s about time people in government acknowledge and incorporate it into our immigration policy.
One of the most intelligent articles that I have read in a long. Totally agree. You can’t support yourself go back home. You are really not welcome here.
Democrats are going to have a coronary over that! That’s their base! They’re counting on them for votes. If you vote for republicans they’re going to take your freebies away.
This is currently the best article I have read about immigration, and whoever wrote this deserves a prize.
Up until the about 1960s, prospective citizens had to WORK at something and be an asset to our country. Now, we have a bunch of freeloaders coming in who hate the country and our way of life! Trash such as Ilhan Omar and about all of her Somalian “terrorist” crew!
This latest invasion by many countries, was invited by the Biden administration. They gave freebies to buy congressional seats and votes. If we believe anything else, our brain is not functioning at its needs to be functioning. So thankful for articles like this one that clearly spells out the horror of the last four years and the illegality of foreign illegals.
As. Regular normal working ( now retired) resident of NYS, and from a family whose grandparents came here and entered the USA through the Ellis Island evaluation, I was surprised and shocked to find out that those requirements for entering and becoming citizens of the USA, ceased to exist shortly after WW2 in the 1950s as a reaction to the isolation selective methods that caused part of the Holocaust era, which allowed an easier access to all, who came to the USA and in doing so lowered the qualification standards to the point that massive loopholes were created including the chain migration inclusion—which allowed one individual who achieved green card status to “sponsor “ others claimed as related family members and also allowed green card holders, a sense of permanency to remain in the USA to work and live without becoming a citizen as required within 5 years of getting that green card. Which over the years since 1955, created generations of green card holders who never became citizens but assumed that they had full citizenship rights
Whoever encouraged this deliberate illusion and it is probably under the false claim of needing workers who would fill jobs at low wages which fits most job fields, and here we are today
They should have never been on the dole to begin with.
Get them off Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security and that would almost solve the solvency problems.
It’s about time. I looked into dual citizenship to Austrailia. The number one rule was you have to have a profession or job skill to not mooch on their welfare system. No skill no entry, period. You MUST pass an extensive background check. That!!!, is the way it should be. Then, there was an age limit as well so that again you are not getting benefits you didn’t earn in their country. I believe it was 55, if i remember correctly. There was also property issues as well, if you bought land you had to have a plan with a year of moving there. It all made sense to me. Trump did not invent the policy, he is doing what other countries are doing to keep their own citizens safe and secure. Thank President Trump!!!!! It about time we get a president that doesn’t care care who he pisses off and doesn’t care about climbing the proverbial political ladder. He actually cares about the American citizens. It’s ashame that so many people out are so full of hate they cannot see pass their ice cold hatred for someone that really is making the country better for all. They don’t see it. Sad.
not only these but round up those shouting DEATH TO AMERICA(USA) and ship back to the country of origin immediately
Democrats are more interested in importing illegals to swell the populations of blue cities and states so as to increase House representation for those areas. Giving green cards to wannabe welfare recipients is part of the scam. Democrats want permanent control. Permanent control means fewer civil rights: Hate speech and hate crimes are defined for anything that government decides requires prosecution. Tax payers get to fund the new cultural norms defined by government. Tax payers then decide if the government keeps taking more of their money, why bother to work hard? End result: shared misery for all except those permanently established in cushy government positions. Venezuela is a prime example of what can happen, and perhaps a case study in what is happening here. After WWII, Venezuela had one of the major economies in the world. Now it is a basket case with a dictator in charge.
Twenty years ago, I immigrated to Sweden. But first I had to prove that I owed no money, was not wanted by the police, and could support my family. Only then was I allowed to enter legally.
Hear hear!
Finally! This is how my grandparents and cousins came. All ended up being highly successful and contributors to this wonderful country. Family stepped up until they were fully on their feet. They seized the opportunity and ran with it!
Years ago, I met a couple that immigrated from Russia when they were young.They went through the proper channels. They were sooo excited and thankful to become American citizens. They said, that back then, an American citizen had to sign something saying they would support the immigrant untill they got on their own two feet. They did not live off taxpayer dollars and get free everything. They got a job, worked hard, and prospered. They were so proud to become an American citizen. They loved America. They were such a wonderful couple. It was an honor to have known them.
I can understand the desire to give hapless immigrants a helping hand to get started in America. But that’s not the government’s responsibility. Anyone who wants to help poor people has thousands of ways to donate or volunteer with charitable organizations that help people where they are, without bringing them here. It is utterly despicable to usurp taxpayer dollars to fund charitable causes, especially for people who failed to respect our immigration laws. And any citizen who receives charity from the government should pay it back! Why is this not a requirement? See the movie, “Cadillac Man” with Russell Crowe.
Do you think we could really get all the leftists to move to another country? That would be awesome! If we could do that, we could let all the illegals who work stay here and pay taxes. At least they want to work. None of the democraps do. Deport the violent illegals, and leftist citizens to another country – overseas so they can’t walk through Mexico to get back, maybe one of the islands in the Bearing Straights would be a nice place for the leftists. It would make a good movie, too bad it’s impossible to do.
As long as we make damn sure we vote in EVERY election, including midterms, the democraps will not get back in power. We won in major majorities across the country in 2024. Most of those voters are still alive and able to vote. So do it! How many people reading this voted on Nov 2 this year? If you didn’t, why not? How many people reading this voted in the midterm election in 2022? If you didn’t, you were a Biden supporter regardless of your beliefs. We SHOULD have won the House AND Senate in 2022, but we didn’t, and it is the fault of all the so called Republicans that didn’t vote in 2022. If you had, we may have stopped 2 years of Biden’s immigration BS. I don’t blame the leftists for all the evil and stupidity they are trying to push down our throats, I blame all the Republicans that don’t get off their lazy asses and vote in every election. In Texas we voted for constitutional amendments to lower property taxes and keeping violent criminals in jail or restoring cash bails, which passed. But if every AMAC member, and every person who believes what Trump is doing is good gets out and votes in every election, we should stay in charge. That is the only way we will keep our country, in one piece.
Well, ain’t that a kick in the butt! You pay, you stay, you don’t you won’t. Sounds just like a home mortgage simplified. Contribute to the common good or hit the road. We have too many people, illegal immigrants included sucking on the public teat that she is fresh out of milk. Way to go President Trump!!!!
I’m under the impression that this is the rule now. My wife immigrated legally into our country 3 or 4 years ago and within the application package there were included forms that as I would become her husband that indeed I would support her and in addition that she could not receive any federal assistance. We had to pay a hefty sum to make this application and surely received NOTHING from the government other than her citizenship certificate which makes all of this worth it to us.
Amen to this idea, we all should b able to support themselves!
A decade ago,I had to go through an FBI background check, a state and local background check, provide proof of permanent income, and be fingerprinted before I could get any kind of legal long term residency in the country of Panama and I was happy to do it. I still live in the United States, but I was happy to comply with the laws and requirements of a place. I will probably eventually live.
While Americans are ignored and left to languish when in need, the illegals scoop up all their benefits. Good for President Trump for stopping this. Shame on Biden and the liberals for allowing it.
Absolutely mind-blowing to discover that my Social-Security, which is taxed, will be assisting (possibly) in Somalian Immigrants sending their Welfare $$ back to Somalia where it is used by Terrorists to create Havoc in the United States & other nations!! There should be a Law that prohibits this practice! There should be severe restriction placed on foreign nationals receiving Welfare in any form! The Democratic Party has flooded the USA with these people in their attempt to overthrow our government. This practice must be stopped immediately.
Can this be extended to freeloaders who were born here?
Only natural born citizens should be able to sponsor an immigrant and only once in their lifetime. People coming to this country should not be able to sponsor their family and friends especially if they are older adults who will be on Medicaid or Medicare the entire rest of their lives.
Listen: one can hear the Dumba$$ocrat$ now, wailing about the Racism, child endangerment, Racism, lack of fairness, Racism, “This is not who we are”, Racism, heartlessness, Racism, and wondering how they will get their graft from this… (smh)
Send the policy requiring proof of Financial support to all USA Embassies around the World. Show the Proof at their country of origin.
My parents signed those documents when we came to the The United States. That was back in 1955. Dad work days Mom worked nights. We went to school. I grew up went to college and worked as did my siblings. One was born here. We are in retirement age now. Oh we earned our citizenship took test. By the way I was senior in high school when I took it. Had to study to pass it. School system doesn’t teach what you need to know to pass it
I don’t understand the democrats love affair with criminals other than they are potential voters maybe for Santa Claus.The newest rant is destroying the boats and criminals that are bringing drags into our country.The only thing that the drug lords understand is power.The Republicans really need to start getting downright nasty and treat the democrats the same way they treat Republicans,downright nasty.
Congress needs to codify this rule.
No doubt this is making Progressive Leftist Democrats very angry. They want their voters dependent on the Government and keep them in office. Democrats are so despicable, it should be Conservatives “cancelling” them rather than vice versa.
If only our educational system still “educated,” instead of “indoctrinated”…