On Wednesday, the Supreme Court heard arguments about the Trump Administration’s “public charges” rule. This immigration policy broadened the range of immigrants who can get denied green cards.

A group led by red states from Arizona asked federal justices for permission to challenge the rule, even though it was abandoned by the Biden administration. The states had unsuccessfully attempted to protect the rule by requesting intervention from a lower appellate court.

Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich claimed that Biden’s actions were unprecedented. The Justices disagreed.

“The position of the new administration changes often in cases. What’s the difference between this case and others in which an administration refuses to appeal an adverse decision? Justice Clarence Thomas asked a conservative.

Justice Elena Kagan of the Liberal Party stated that there was a “mismatch” between what you are saying and what you say you want.

This is the rule at issue came in 2019The Department of Homeland Security of then-President Donald Trump was revised to indicate that any non-U.S. citizen will likely become a public charges and be ineligible as a permanent resident.

Two decades ago, guidance had described a public charge to be someone who is “primarily dependent upon the government for subsistence,” however, it did not consider non-cash benefits such as food stamps or Medicaid in that definition.

This 2019 rule changes the definition of public charges to include these and other benefits. It could make it more difficult for low-income immigrants to obtain residency. The lower courts blocked the rule.

There are civil rights groups. decried the policyIt is a “racist-based wealth test” on the immigrant system.

The oral arguments on Wednesday were less than one week after President Joe Biden proposed a plan to reverse Trump’s rule.

Biden, a 2020 presidential candidate had pledged to reverse Trump’s public charging policy. The Biden administration stopped opposing the legal challenges that were being brought up by the Trump administration in March.

“The 2019 Public Charge Rule was incompatible with the nation’s core values.” It punishes those who use health services or other government services,” Alejandro Mayorkas (Homeland Security Secretary) said at that time.