Since the 1880s, the United States has had a policy requiring people entering the country with the intent to become permanent residents to support themselves. There have been times when the requirements or implementation of that policy have been more lenient than others, but at no point since the 1880s, nor after the welfare state dramatically expanded did Congress intend for people to be allowed to immigrate in order to avail themselves of the privilege of becoming a "public charge."
It's an obviously common-sense policy. The alternative is to make the United States the welfare provider for the world, which is exactly what many Democrats want, and what Mamdani is suing to ensure.
People applying for a Green Card must show on the I-485 Form that they are not likely to become a “public charge”— not likely to become dependent on the U.S. government for basic needs such as food, shelter, or healthcare.
— Tesla's Pigeon (@TeslasPigeon2) September 14, 2026
It is a longstanding statutory requirement. pic.twitter.com/5TzJDyLWDv
Under Joe Biden, the rules were substantially loosened, because, of course, they were. Just as the border was opened up to all comers, the welfare state spigot was turned on to full blast. The laws were still on the books, but Biden administration policy guidance made it easier to get many forms of public assistance and reduced the need for public assistance as a barrier to moving here.
Unsurprisingly, Trump is tightening the restrictions again to pre-Biden levels. The goal is obvious: reduce the welfare magnet effect, where moving to the US is not about the opportunity to work and build a better life, but about gaining access to government benefits unavailable at home.
https://t.co/Zn2xrd8sf9 https://t.co/1C0CuphHBQ
— Crowdsource The Truth (@JG_CSTT) September 14, 2026
Mamdani announces that he's suing the Trump admin over the new rule that allows them to deny green cards to foreigners who are likely to rely on welfare.Says that "four million people will unenroll from their healthcare" and that "people will die" if more green cards aren't given to welfare dependent foreigners.
Mamdani's announcement of his lawsuit is filled with scaremongering and outright lies. He implies that US citizens and Green Card holders will have their benefits dropped, although he admits in an aside that they will not be affected.
Instead, he hypothesizes that people who are eligible for benefits will drop them for unspecified reasons, even though the Trump administration has kept them eligible.
They will DIE DIE DIE, not because Trump denied them healthcare, but because they chose not to avail themselves of it, which is Donald Trump's fault because reasons.
The idea that immigrants should get welfare services is absolutely insane. I say this as an immigrant (now citizen) who had to promise not to use any welfare—and who absolutely, unequivocally should have been expected to do that. https://t.co/ovC1XIkUmW
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) September 14, 2026
It's BS. The rules are clear: if you want to live in the US and are moving here, you have to be able to support yourself. That has been the intent of the law for over 140 years, and it's an obviously common-sense measure.
It doesn't even apply to refugees or asylees. It applies to people who apply for immigration or Green Cards. From most people's perspective, the rules will remain very generous. I doubt you could find more than 20 percent of the population who would agree that the United States should be importing people to put them on welfare.
Are you poor in Guatemala? Move to the US, and we will turn on the welfare spigot! Bring your friends and family while you are at it!
Other Democrats are following Mamdani's lead. Twenty states are suing Trump to reopen the borders and welfare floodgates. Mamdani may be the frontman, but the Democrat Party as a whole is on board.
Breaking News: More than 20 states sued the Trump administration over its policy to restrict immigrants from obtaining green cards if they rely on public benefits. https://t.co/tvbLajNBTx
— The New York Times (@nytimes) September 14, 2026
Mamdani's scaremongering about US citizens and Green Card holders, implying they will drop like flies, is the only way he can make his position sound reasonable, but it's all smoke and mirrors.
All Trump is doing is applying the law as Congress intended, and dropping the "welfare for all comers" policy of the Biden administration.
This is all part of the "decolonization" and "reparations" agenda. The socialists believe others are poor because we are rich — including people in other countries — and want us to pay a form of reparations through open borders and welfare for all comers.
Now, expect a liberal judge to agree with him. Because of course some liberal judge will.
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