The Senate voted Wednesday to overturn a Biden administration rule that permits authorized immigrants to make use of welfare with out having to fret about going through penalties of their future standing.
The 50-47 vote sends the measure to the House, the place it’s also prone to go, given the GOP’s majority.
But the White House vowed to veto the measure, and the Senate vote fell nicely in need of the tally that will be wanted to override the president.
Still, the vote stands as one other rebuke to Mr. Biden on each his expansive regulatory agenda and on immigration particularly.
U.S. immigration legislation for greater than a century has been primarily based on the concept immigrants ought to pay their very own manner, together with not turning into a “public charge” by taking welfare or different authorities assist. Those who violate the general public cost commonplace may be denied the possibility to change into residents.
The present legislation was written in 1996, but it surely left it as much as the administration to resolve what counted as authorities assist.
The Biden rule, finalized final yr, would say that only some money welfare applications would depend in opposition to a authorized immigrant.
That overturns a Trump coverage that was extra expansive, together with use of Medicaid or public housing help as strikes in opposition to authorized immigrants.
The Trump coverage was placed on maintain by a federal decide earlier than it truly denied any immigrants an opportunity at citizenship, and the Biden rule formally replaces the Trump model.
The White House defended its model in its veto assertion Wednesday, saying Mr. Trump’s coverage had made even some U.S. residents who dwell with immigrants of their households cautious of asking for advantages for which they certified.
Officials stated the rule was drafted to assist advance Mr. Biden’s purpose of welcoming immigrants.
“It is an important step towards undoing the damage that resulted from the chilling effect of the 2019 public charge rule and provides a clear, comprehensive, and fair standard for assessing whether a noncitizen is likely to become a public charge,” the White House stated.
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