x
Breaking News
More () »

Trump administration's latest immigration rule facing backlash, lawsuits

Experts in Texas say the extended regulation could put 1.6M Texas children, both citizens and immigrants, at risk of losing services they need and qualify for.

AUSTIN, Texas — Ken Cuccuinelli, President Donald Trump's acting Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, suggested Tuesday that the famous words of the Statue of Liberty would be better written, "Give me your tired and your poor who can stand on their own two feet and who will not become a public charge."

His suggestion was in response to the Trump Administration's latest rule for immigrants legally in the U.S., which would issue a strike against people wanting to become permanent citizens if they use public assistance, like food stamps or subsidized housing for a total of 12 months in a three-year time span. It would not apply to people who currently have or are renewing green-cards, pregnant women, children or refugees and asylum seekers.

"I don't think it's fair to have the American taxpayers paying for people to come into the United States," President Trump told reporters.

RELATED: 

Immigration Chief tweaks Statue of Liberty poem to defend new rules

New rules can deny green cards for immigrants on food stamps

Matt Mackowiak, chair of the Travis County Republican Party, told KVUE it's just sound policy.

"Look, I mean there's a limit to how generous America can be," Mackowiak said. "And, you know, I think asking someone who is to not be primarily dependent on public benefits if they want to stay here, I think that's reasonable."

Cheasty Anderson, Ph.D., a senior policy associate with The Children's Defense Fund of Texas, disagreed.

"That is not fair," she said, adding that while children are exempt, in Texas alone, 1.6 million kids are at risk of losing services they need. 

RELATED: 

Youth march from church to town square against Mississippi immigration raids

Largest US immigration raids in a decade net 680 arrests

"We are seeing a chilling effect. By which I mean people are so afraid, whether they're impacted or not impacted, they're just saying, 'I'm not going to deal with this,' and they're withdrawing themselves from programs," Anderson said. "They're also withdrawing their citizen children who are eligible for these programs, who need these programs."

She said this is just the latest action aiming to build an "invisible wall" in America to isolate and remove immigrants. 

Several states have announced plans to file lawsuits against the administration to stop the rule. It is set to go into effect on October 15.

WATCH: ICE raids, fines worry asylum-seeking family

PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING:

Her 9-month-old refused to take her bottle. That's when she found out her 'formula' was fake.

Fortnite champ who won $3 million 'swatted' at Pennsylvania home

Boerne dog owner warning others after losing her pet to deadly algae

Baby reported missing now in CPS custody, Austin police say

Before You Leave, Check This Out