Mamdani sues Trump admin to make sure immigrants can keeping getting welfare, taxpayer-funded health care

Socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and New York Attorney General Letita James are suing the Trump administration in an effort to block officials from refusing immigrants' applications over their welfare status.

The Trump administration recently expanded the federal authority to deny visas and green cards based on the welfare status of immigrants who are applying, but the New York officials are working to stop it. The lawsuit, which was filed by Mamdani jointly with James, attempts to stop the expansion of the "public charge" rule, which allows the federal government to deny visa and green card applications based on how likely they are to get public benefits.

"If you are a citizen, or an individual seeking humanitarian relief like asylum, these changes will not affect you," Mamdani said on Monday. "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." He added, "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."

Mamdani made the claim that about 4 million people could be forced off healthcare plans out of fear that their applications for green cards or visas could be denied. There are multiple cities that have joined New York's lawsuit, including Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, and others.

James is making a separate legal challenge against the rule and said, "Hardworking families should not be forced to go without the support they need because they fear asking for assistance will get them deported." 21 other states as well as Washington, DC have also joined with James to block the administration's rule.

"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," James added.