Mamdani, Letitia James Sue Trump Administration Over Expanded ‘Public Charge’ Immigration Rule– slaynews.com

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and New York Attorney General Letitia James are suing President Donald Trump’s administration over its effort to expand federal authority to deny visas and green cards to immigrants who are likely to rely on taxpayer-funded public benefits.

The lawsuit targets the Trump administration’s expansion of the “public charge” rule, which allows immigration officials to consider whether an applicant is likely to depend on government assistance when deciding whether to approve a visa or permanent residency application.

The administration is seeking to broaden the benefits considered under the rule, with the changes scheduled to take effect September 18.

Mamdani argued Monday that the policy would intimidate immigrants into abandoning government benefits.

“If you are a citizen, or an individual seeking humanitarian relief like asylum, these changes will not affect you,” Mamdani said during a press conference.

“The new public charge rule not only sweeps aside more than a century of established law, it is intentionally vague as a means of creating uncertainty and fear to isolate immigrant New Yorkers.