Overview
- DHS and USCIS finalized the rollback in the Federal Register on Thursday, July 16, 2026, and said the reinstated rule will take effect on September 18, 2026.
- The rule lets officers weigh an applicant’s past or current use of certain public programs — including SNAP, Medicaid and housing vouchers — as a negative factor when deciding Green Card and adjustment‑of‑status requests.
- USCIS will publish an updated Form I‑485 for adjustment of status and will stop accepting earlier editions filed or mailed after the rule’s September 18 effective date.
- USCIS officials, represented by spokesman Zach Kahler, say the change restores statutory discretion and promotes self‑sufficiency and taxpayer protection.
- Immigrant advocates and public‑health experts warn the rule worked as a de facto wealth test in prior years, that it may deter eligible people from using medical care and food aid, and that confusion over the new form could delay or reject thousands of pending applicants.