Nevada joins 13 other states suing Trump administration over change to 'public charge' rule

The Silver State is one of 13 now suing over the divisive immigration rule change

James DeHaven
Reno Gazette-Journal

Nevada is joining 13 other states suing the Trump administration over a controversial rule change that will expand the government’s ability to limit legal immigration.

The newly revised “public charge” restriction, first announced on Monday, will allow the government to deport or deny visa renewals for immigrants who use public benefits such as Medicaid, food stamps and housing vouchers.

The move has been slammed by Democratic critics as little more than a targeted attack on low-income immigrants and Latinos.

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, pictured while serving in the state Senate in 2017.

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford added to that chorus in a scathing Wednesday statement announcing his support for the litigation.

“I pledged to protect Nevada’s families, and I will continue to protect our families from the Trump administration’s numerous attacks,” Ford said in a statement. “This proposed change is not only mean-spirited, it essentially makes legal immigrants choose between maintaining their legal status and receiving assistance to meet basic needs, like food, health care and housing. It’s unconscionable.”

More:Donald Trump administration wants to deny green cards to migrants on public assistance

Related:Trump demands legal immigrants reimburse the government for welfare programs

Ford is just the latest Nevada Democrat to express outrage over the move, which has also been blasted by U.S. Reps. Steven Horsford and Dina Titus, as well as state Sen. Yvanna Cancela, D-Las Vegas.

Current federal law allows many lawful immigrants to apply for public benefits if they have been in the country for at least five years. 

The lawsuit filed by Ford and others alleges changes to that rule, set to take effect Oct. 15, are overly broad and will allow federal officials to redefine who can receive public benefits in a way that’s “unconnected to its original meaning and Congress’ intent.”

Other states who have joined the complaint include Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Virginia and Washington.

James DeHaven is the politics reporter for the Reno Gazette Journal. He covers campaigns, the Nevada Legislature and everything in between. Support his work by subscribing to RGJ.com right here