The newrules would redefine "public charge" as someone who is "more likelythan not" to receive public benefits for more than 12 months withina 36-month period. (Photo: iStock)

The Trump administration's quest to deny green cards toimmigrants in need of public assistance, including Medicaid, foodstamps and other government benefits, was temporarily denied byjudges in three states on Friday.

According to the Associated Press, the new rules were set to gointo effect on October 15, but  have been delayedfollowing decisions by U.S. District Judge George Daniels in NewYork, ruling on a lawsuit brought by New York, Connecticut andVermont; U.S. District Judge Rosanna Molouf Peterson in Spokane,Washington, ruling on a suit brought by that state and 13 others;and U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton in Oakland, California,ruling on a suit by California, Maine, Oregon and Pennsylvania.

Related: Immigration policy could have big impact on healthcare

Existing rules—in use since 1999—define "public charge" as aperson who depends primarily on some form of government support,including cash assistance or income maintenance.

The new rules would redefine "public charge" as someone who is"more likely than not" to receive public benefits for more than 12months within a 36-month period. If a person were to receive twobenefits, that would count as two months, and the benefitdefinition would be increased to include not just Medicaid but alsohousing assistance and food assistance under the SupplementalNutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

An average of 544,000 people apply each year for green cards,but the proposed and far more stringent Trump rules would havesubjected some 382,000 to the new review.

According to AP, the administration claims the changes wouldmake sure that new legal residents would be self-sufficient;however, critics of the new rules call them discriminatory, withthe end result of excluding immigrants with lower incomes from thecountry while welcoming wealthier immigrants. It adds that many"consider it a betrayal of Emma Lazarus' words on the Statue ofLiberty, 'Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled massesyearning to breathe free.'"

Read more: 

• Leave health insurers out of immigrant eligibility,AHIP says
• Fewer taxpayers claim ACA subsidy, but those who doclaimed more
• Caregivers (and patients) on the losing end ofTrump immigration policy