New York City Mayor Files Lawsuit Against Trump Administration Over Immigration Rule

<p>New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a lawsuit against the Trump administration on September 14, 2026, regarding its efforts to restrict foreigners from receiving visas or green cards if they are on welfare.</p><p>The lawsuit challenges the upcoming changes to the "public charge" rule, which allows the federal government to deny immigration status to individuals deemed unlikely to "be self-sufficient" and likely to depend on taxpayer-funded government benefits, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).</p><p>On September 18, the federal government plans to expand the list of welfare programs that immigration officers may consider when evaluating applicants.</p><p>During a press conference, Mamdani stated that "up to four million" people could be impacted by these changes, expressing concern that "people could die" as a result.</p><p>He said, "The toll of this new rule cannot be overstated. It is estimated that up to four million people from across the country could unenroll from their health care alone, including 1.8 million children. None of this is abstract. People could die."</p><p>Mamdani further claimed that the rate of premature mortality in immigrant communities in New York City could increase by up to 10.6% within the next five years due to these changes. He argued that denying services does not eliminate the need but rather exacerbates it, leading to greater costs for the system.</p><p>New York City is joined in its legal challenge by Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Santa Clara County, California, and King County, Washington. Additionally, New York Democratic Attorney General Letitia James filed a separate lawsuit alongside 21 other Democrat-run states to contest the forthcoming changes.</p><p>James stated, "We will use every legal tool available to us to challenge this rule and protect New Yorkers from unlawful federal action and stand up for immigrants who are our neighbors, our friends, our family members, but most importantly New Yorkers," during the press conference.</p>