New York City leads lawsuit against Trump's 'public charge' immigration rule

NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and mayors around the country announced a joint lawsuit Monday seeking to stop President Donald Trump from making it harder for lawful immigrants to receive green cards or visas. New York State Attorney General Letitia James is leading a separate coalition that's filing a concurrent suit.

A federal rule change sought by the Trump administration would give immigration agents more leeway to deny green cards or visas to lawful immigrants on the basis of being a "public charge" — someone who's using social safety net programs. The rule change, which is set to take effect Friday, would allow agents to factor in the use of Medicaid or food assistance into their decision making.

"The new public charge rule seeks to push immigrant families away from the programs that have kept people fed and healthy for decades. New Yorkers will be afraid to see a doctor or ask for help they are legally entitled to," Mamdani said in a statement. "That fear will not stop at the families that the federal government is targeting. Families who remain fully eligible for benefits will feel a chilling effect, and all New Yorkers will pay for it."

New York City is leading a coalition of cities and counties that includes Chicago, San Francisco, Santa Clara County in California, Seattle, and King County in Washington. The suit, which was filed in the Southern District of New York, argues that the Trump administration overstepped legal precedent that puts limits on what immigration officials can consider when denying a green card or visa application on a "public charge" basis.

"Chicago will not stand by while the federal government forces immigrant families to choose between putting food on the table, taking their children to the doctor, or protecting their ability to remain in this country," Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement. "This rule is not only cruel, it is unlawful, and it threatens the health and safety of our entire city."

The Trump administration has argued that the U.S. should more carefully consider giving green cards or visas to poor immigrants who rely on government services.

Public health experts have predicted that the rule change will result in immigrants declining to seek preventative medical care, a trend that could potentially place a greater cost on the system if they wait until a major medical episode to see a doctor.