New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, together with New York Attorney General Letitia James, filed a federal lawsuit on Monday challenging the Trump administration’s effort to expand the public charge rule. The administration intends to widen the list of public benefits that can be considered when evaluating visa and green‑card applications, with the new provisions slated to take effect on September 18.
“If you are a citizen, or an individual seeking humanitarian relief like asylum, these changes will not affect you,” Mayor Mamdani said at 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.” He added that the rule could force up to four million people to abandon health‑care enrollment out of fear that their immigration applications might be denied.
Attorney General James announced a parallel challenge, leading a coalition of 21 other states and the District of Columbia in a request to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to block the rule. “Hardworking families should not be forced to go without the support they need because they fear asking for assistance will get them deported,” James said. “This rule preys on that fear and counts on families forfeiting the food assistance, health‑care coverage, and other public benefits to which they are legally entitled. My office fought this exact policy once before and won, and we are leading the nation to ensure the Trump administration cannot inflict this harm on families again.”
Other jurisdictions join the fight
Mayor Mamdani noted that several major cities and counties across the country are aligning with New York’s lawsuit, including Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Santa Clara County and King County. Their participation underscores a growing concern among local leaders that the expanded rule could disrupt community services and strain local resources.
The Trump administration has argued that the public charge rule is a necessary tool to protect American taxpayers and ensure that immigration applicants are not likely to become a burden on public welfare programs. By clarifying the criteria for public benefit use, the administration seeks to preserve the integrity of the immigration system while safeguarding the resources that support American families.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
This lawsuit represents a significant clash between local officials who emphasize family stability and community support, and a federal administration committed to fiscal responsibility and immigration integrity. The outcome will have direct implications for millions of immigrants and the public‑benefit programs they rely on.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
