Trump administration rolls back Biden public charge rule

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, under the Trump administration, has revoked the 2022 public‑charge regulation enacted by President Biden. The change restores the long‑standing legal standard that restricts entry for immigrants likely to rely on government welfare benefits. The rule, originally codified in 1996 with bipartisan support, required legal immigrants to have a sponsor guarantee they would not become a public charge. Biden’s revision had relaxed those requirements, prompting criticism that it encouraged welfare use among non‑citizen households. By rescinding the rule, officials say the move reaffirms immigration law and aims to keep the American safety net focused on U.S. citizens.

The reversal has been highlighted by senior advisers Stephen Miller and other Trump administration officials as a key element of the administration’s immigration stance, contrasting with prior administrations’ approaches dating back to the Clinton era.