Bill > HR6987

This bill, the Public Charge Clarification Act of 2026, aims to redefine and clarify what it means for an immigrant to be a "public charge," meaning someone likely to rely on government assistance. It establishes that an alien is considered a public charge if they receive certain government benefits for more than 12 months within a 36-month period, with specific examples of these "public benefits" including cash assistance for income maintenance, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), housing assistance programs like Section 8, and most forms of Medicaid (excluding emergency care, benefits for those under 21, or pregnant women). The bill also mandates that the Secretary of Homeland Security publish a comprehensive list of these benefits and requires that determinations of whether an immigrant is likely to become a public charge consider a totality of circumstances, including age, health, family status, financial resources, education, skills, and immigration status, but no single factor will be decisive. Furthermore, it clarifies that affidavits of support, which are promises from a sponsor to financially support an immigrant, can be considered but are not enough on their own to prevent an immigrant from being deemed a public charge, and sponsors must provide proof of their ability to support the immigrant and their household at 125% of the federal poverty line. In cases where an immigrant is likely to become a public charge but other factors suggest approval, a public charge bond of at least $10,000 may be required. The bill exempts refugees, asylees, and members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their dependents from these provisions, and generally prohibits waivers for inadmissibility on public charge grounds unless specifically authorized by Congress.

Justice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6987/all-info