The new policy can be used to deny green cards to immigrants over their use of public benefits including Medicaid, food stamps and housing vouchers, as well as other factors.
The justices’ order came by a 5-4 vote and reversed a ruling from the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York that had kept in a place a nationwide hold on the policy following lawsuits that have been filed against it.
On average, 544,000 people apply annually for green cards, with about 382,000 falling into categories that would be subject to this review, according to the government.
Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton released the following statement about the Supreme Court’s decision:
“Thousands of foreigners circumvent our immigration process each year through fraudulent ‘birth tourism’ visits and the State Department is right to crack down on this sham. This rule will prevent temporary visitor visas from being hijacked by those seeking to exploit the United States.”
