Cuccinelli hails Supreme Court’s public charge ruling

Acting Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli on Monday hailed the Supreme Court’s public charge ruling, which makes it more difficult for immigrants who need public assistance to earn legal status while their cases go through court.  

Cuccinelli praised the 5-4 ruling, saying that President Trump’s administration is “happy” with the result, which lifts an injunction on the rule made by a federal judge in the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals.

“Obviously, we’re happy to see the Supreme Court step in the way they did here,” he said. 

Cuccinelli cited a previous decision in September to allow the administration’s asylum rule when saying the Supreme Court is “fed up” with judges making rulings based on policy preferences.

The ruling decided earlier Monday will allow the Department of Homeland Security to refuse entry or legal status to those who will likely require public assistance, specifically cash and noncash benefits like food or housing, for more than 12 months in a three-year time period. 

Previously, decisions determining whether an immigrant was a public charge depended on whether they would probably need certain cash benefits.

The September ruling allowed the administration’s asylum rules to be implemented while they were being challenged in courts. The rules required asylum-seekers to apply for asylum in any countries they passed through to reach the U.S.