Federal Lawsuits Challenge DHS Policy on Immigrant Green Cards
Three federal lawsuits were filed in Manhattan challenging a new Department of Homeland Security policy that denies green cards to legal immigrants who use means-tested government assistance.
Albany Schenectady Troy, NY, September 18, 2026 —
Three federal lawsuits have been filed in Manhattan challenging a new policy enacted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The policy in question affects legal immigrants seeking to obtain green cards, denying them this status if they have utilized means-tested government assistance programs.
The lawsuits were initiated in the Southern District of New York. Specific details regarding the plaintiffs, including their names and the exact nature of the assistance they received, were not immediately available. The legal challenges aim to contest the legality and impact of the DHS policy, which reportedly alters previous guidelines concerning public charge determinations for immigrants.
Under the challenged policy, the use of certain government benefits by legal immigrants could be a determining factor in the denial of their applications for lawful permanent residence, commonly known as a green card. Means-tested programs are typically those for which eligibility is determined by the recipient’s income and assets. The specific types of assistance programs encompassed by the DHS policy were not detailed in the initial reports of the lawsuits.
The timing of the policy’s implementation and the official announcement date were also not provided. The outcome of these federal lawsuits could have significant implications for a broad range of legal immigrants navigating the U.S. immigration system. Further information regarding the legal arguments, the specific claims made by the plaintiffs, and the DHS’s official response to the litigation is expected as the cases progress through the court system.
Story summarized from the original created by Johan Sheridan on www.news10.com, see more information here.
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