22 states, DC and six local governments sue to block counting benefits use against green-card applicants

The DHS policy taking effect Sept 18 lets officers weigh Medicaid, CHIP, SNAP and housing aid in green-card, visa and admission decisions, reversing the cash-assistance-only standard.

What the filings say:

• Both suits were filed Monday, Sept. 14 in the Southern District of New York, with the state suit led by New York AG Letitia James.
• DHS estimates more than 950,000 people could drop or skip benefits to avoid immigration penalties.
• DHS estimates states could lose $4.05 billion a year in Medicaid and CHIP money, about $2.2 billion of it in suing states.