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 The U.S. Department of Homeland Security under the Trump Administration announced this week a plan to roll back a Biden-era rule that broadened eligibility for green card applicants.

Under the new proposed rule, immigrants who use safety net programs like SNAP or Medicaid could be denied on their application for permanent residency.

The plan revives a “public charge” debate in immigration policy. The federal agency, under the Trump Administration, argues that someone using Medicaid could show reliance on government aid and, if granted permanent residency, could remain primarily dependent on these support systems.

Current DHS officials say it could lead to about a 10 percent disenrollment from programs like Medicaid, saving federal and state governments almost $9 billion dollars a year

Advocates argue this could disincentivize the use of the benefits by immigrants who need and qualify for them.

Immigration attorney Christopher Kerosky tells KRCB News this could have a huge impact on the immigrant families he works with in Sonoma County. Many of his firm’s clients, largely Mexican families, have been in the country for decades, he says, waiting up to 25 years for a green card.

“Everybody understood under the prior administration that it was not going to be used against them if they tried to get a green card," Kerosky said. "Well, it was just announced by the Trump administration, now they are going to hold that against people.”

The Department of Homeland Security hasn’t said if the rule would apply retroactively or not. There is a public comment period on the plan open until December 19, 2025. at regulations.gov. State officials said this week it does make a difference when the federal government receives a large volume of public comment submissions on any proposed policy.