New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is suing the Trump administration over its proposed expansion of federal power to deny visa and green card applications based on an applicant’s use of public benefits.
The lawsuit, filed alongside New York Attorney General Letitia James, challenges the administration’s planned expansion of the “public charge” rule. The policy allows the federal government to reject visa applications if officials determine an applicant is likely to rely on public assistance. Under the proposed change, set to take effect Sept. 18, more types of benefits would be considered in those decisions.
“If you are a citizen, or an individual seeking humanitarian relief like asylum, these changes will not affect you,” Mamdani said during a Monday 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.”
“Make no mistake, this is an undisguised effort to strip New Yorkers of the services they rely on, the public benefits they are entitled to,” he continued.
Mamdani said the rule could prompt as many as 4 million people to drop their health coverage because they fear using benefits could jeopardize their immigration applications.
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According to Mamdani, several major cities and counties are joining New York in the legal challenge, including Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Santa Clara County and King County.
James is also pursuing a separate case against the public charge rule. She is leading a coalition of 21 additional states and the District of Columbia in asking the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to block the Trump administration’s policy.
“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 in a statement.
“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,” she added.
The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.