America's Wealth Test

The U.S. Supreme Court gave the go-ahead for one of Trump’s hardline immigration policies, allowing his administration to implement a rule denying legal permanent residency to certain immigrants deemed likely to require government assistance in the future.

On a 5-4 vote, it granted the administration’s request to lift a lower court’s injunction that had blocked the so-called public charge policy while litigation over its legality continues. The court’s five conservative justices, including Chief Justice John Roberts and two justices appointed by Trump, carried the day. The court’s four liberal justices said they would have denied the administration’s request.

The rule  allows immigrants to be declared a 'public charge' and denied green cards even if they are employed

The rule has been criticized by immigrant rights advocates as a “wealth test” that would disproportionately keep out non-white immigrants. At issue is which immigrants will be granted legal permanent residency, known as a “green card.” Under Trump’s policy, immigration officers would consider factors such as age, educational level and English proficiency to decide whether an immigrant would likely become a “public charge” who would receive government benefits such as the Medicaid health insurance program for the poor.  Critics have said the rule would disproportionately bar low-income people from developing countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia from permanent residency.

Lorella Praeli, president of Community Change Action, said the court’s decision would negatively impact millions of the most vulnerable—with “lasting consequences on women, children, and the elderly.”

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said on Twitter. “America shouldn’t have a wealth test for admission. It’s a place where millions of people are descendants of immigrants who came w nothing & made a life. The American Dream isn’t a private club with a cover charge—it’s the possibility of remaking your future.”

“The Supreme Court’s decision will further marginalize immigrant communities and will inevitably create a socioeconomic hierarchy in our immigration system,” said Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR) government affairs director Robert McCaw. “The Trump administration’s policy could quite literally kill people by making them too afraid to seek life-saving medical care, and the Supreme Court seems to agree such a cruel system is acceptable.”

https://www.alternet.org/2020/01/supreme-court-allows-trumps-shameful-public-charge-rule-to-take-effect/