Trump Admin: 'No Green Cards for Poor, Just Billionaire Tax Cuts'
In 2019, the Trump administration formalized rules denying green cards to immigrants who utilize public assistance like Medicaid or food stamps. According to then-DHS Acting Secretary Ken Cuccinelli, this ensured immigrants were 'self-sufficient.' ( The Hill ). This, from an administration that oversaw a massive $1.9 trillion tax cut , predominantly benefiting corporations and the wealthy, which
directly necessitated cuts in social programs. The irony is so thick, you could use it to build a wall. So, the 'pull yourself up by your bootstraps' crowd demands immigrants arrive fully resourced, while simultaneously ensuring fewer resources are available for everyone else. One might wonder where these 'self-sufficient' newcomers are supposed to obtain their health insurance—perhaps from the
endless coffers of tax breaks given to those who donate to political campaigns? It appears the American 'safety net' is reserved for banks and corporations, not human beings.