New US Green Card Rule Takes Effect, What It Means for Kenyans and Africans

Kenyans seeking permanent residency in the United States (US) now face tougher immigration scrutiny following the introduction of a new public charge rule by the Trump administration, which came into force on Friday, September 18. The Trump administration has introduced a new green card rule. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) formally published the rule in the Federal Register on July 20, 2026, ahead of its September 18 implementation.  The policy significantly widens the criteria immigration officers can use to determine whether an applicant is at risk of becoming financially dependent on the government. What has changed under the new green card rule? Under the previous framework, immigration officers primarily focused on cash assistance when evaluating whether an applicant was likely to become a public charge. The new rule broadens that assessment to include a wider range of government programmes, among them Medicaid, food assistance, and housing support. Notably, officers can now factor in benefits received or applied for on behalf of an applicant’s family members, including children who hold US citizenship, a provision that could catch many applicants off guard. “The final rule was formally published in the Federal Register on July 20, 2026, and goes into effect on Sept. 18, 2026. The updated guidance aligns with congressional intent that aliens in the United States be self-sufficient and not dependent on taxpayer-funded government benefits,” USCIS stated. What is the impact on Kenyan green card applicants? The new policy is expected to affect thousands of foreign nationals, including Kenyans pursuing legal permanent residency in the US. Those who rely on any form of government assistance for day-to-day survival face a heightened risk of having their applications denied or delayed under the expanded assessment criteria. The rule reflects the Trump administration’s broader stance on legal immigration, prioritising financial self-sufficiency as a core requirement for those seeking to settle permanently in the country.

Source: TUKO.co.ke