Texas Public Charge Lawsuit Dismissed

AUSTIN, TEXAS — The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas issued an order Monday, dismissing a suit challenging the Biden Administration’s 2022 “public charge” regulation, which made it clear that people seeking a green card would not be penalized if their eligible family members access food, housing or health care. The Honorable Drew Tipton ruled that the plaintiff, the State of Texas, “failed to submit evidence” in support of its standing claim and that its argument was “speculative at best.”

Reacting to the decision, the Protecting Immigrant Families coalition issued the following statement from its spokesperson, Esther Reyes:

“Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wasted the taxpayers’ time and money filing a frivolous attack on lawfully-present immigrants and their families. This ruling is good for Texas taxpayers and for the health and wellbeing of millions of people nationwide. Immigrant families need to know that getting help with food, housing, or health care at a doctor’s office, clinic, or hospital will have no effect on immigration status or applications.”