Public Charge Rule Lawsuit — Mamdani + AG James Sue to Block Sept 18 Trump Rule Denying Immigrants for Medicaid/SNAP/Housing Use

AG Letitia James and Mayor Mamdani filed a joint multi-state lawsuit Sept 15 to block an expanded USCIS/DHS public charge rule set to take effect Friday Sept 18. The rule would let immigration officials deny visas and green cards based on lawful use of Medicaid, SNAP, housing assistance and — as written — school meal programs. Coalition of 21 states + DC and cities/counties (Chicago, SF, Seattle, Santa Clara, King County) argues rule violates federal statute and APA. Trump admin frames it as restoring self-sufficiency standard weakened under Biden; estimated 4M nationwide could disenroll from healthcare alone (1.8M children). Rule interacts with Mamdani's earlier SNAP-protection posture (223K of 266K NYC benefits preserved earlier this year).