Inside Trump’s suddenly softened new green card policy

The Trump administration has quietly softened its stance on green card eligibility, rolling back certain restrictive measures that had been implemented earlier this year. The revised policy, which took effect this week, removes a requirement that applicants prove they can afford private health insurance or pay for medical costs out of pocket.

Under the original rule, immigrants seeking permanent residency could be denied if they were deemed likely to rely on public health benefits. The new guidance instead allows applicants to demonstrate they have access to affordable health coverage through employer plans or other means.

The change follows legal challenges and criticism from immigration advocates who argued the earlier policy unfairly targeted low-income immigrants. Officials said the update aims to clarify the rule while still ensuring immigrants do not become a burden on the U.S. healthcare system.

The policy shift applies to all pending and future green card applications. Immigration attorneys have noted that the softened language may reduce denials for applicants who lacked private insurance but had other forms of coverage.