09/22/2026
Last week, new federal guidance took effect on public charge determination. Immigration officials now have broader discretion to consider the use of public benefits when deciding whether to approve a green card application. The rule could affect families' decisions about using programs they are legally eligible for, including health care and nutrition assistance.
California and a coalition of other states are suing to block the rule, arguing that it could discourage immigrant families from accessing essential benefits.
We’ve already seen signs of a chilling effect: Between June 2025 and March 2026, 244,000 undocumented Californians left Medi-Cal.
Learn more about the public charge rule, who is affected, and which benefits may be considered:
Learn if public benefits programs may affect your family's immigration plans. Immigration law can be confusing, learn more about the public charge rule.
