New York sues the White House

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani filed suit with state Attorney General Letitia James against the Trump administration's plan to weigh welfare use in visa and green card decisions.

What the rule changes

The public charge rule lets the government deny applicants deemed likely to rely on public benefits. The administration wants to widen the list of qualifying benefits, effective Sept. 18.

Citizens are not affected

Mamdani drew a line at a Monday press conference: the change hits visa and green card applicants, not citizens or people seeking asylum and other humanitarian relief.

“If you are a citizen, or an individual seeking humanitarian relief like asylum, these changes will not affect you”

Vague on purpose, he says

Mamdani argued the rule is written loosely to spread fear, and estimated up to 4 million people could drop their healthcare coverage rather than risk their applications.

“it is intentionally vague as a means of creating uncertainty and fear to isolate immigrant New Yorkers”

Cities and states pile on

Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Santa Clara County and King County joined New York's suit. James is running a separate challenge with 21 states and DC in the Southern District of New York.

James has won this before

Her office beat the same policy in an earlier round and is betting on a repeat. SNAP alone feeds more than 40 million Americans a month. The White House had no immediate comment.

“My office fought this exact policy once before and won”