Trump Administration Wants to Require Bank Account Information from US Citizens Who Sponsor a Relative for Green Card

According to a notice in the Federal Register, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will discuss to issue the new rule that require people who apply to sponsor immigrant family members to provide the government their bank account information.

This change will include an area in Form I-864, Form I-864A, Form I-864P and Form I-864EZ (Affidavit of Support).

This is a way to enforce sponsors’ legal financial responsibility for immigrants. This information can prove the sponsor’s ability to pay the government back if the immigrants use certain public benefits.

The proposed change would also require sponsors to provide information about any previously submitted pledges of support for immigrants they’ve sponsored. Affidavits would have to first be notarized as well.

However, according to former Justice Department immigration attorney Leon Fresco, the law has rarely, if ever, been enforced. This rule could discourage some people from sponsoring immigrants at all.

This change is a part of a broader push by The Trump administration to block immigrants from using public benefit programs.

The prospective change will be informed in the Federal Register for 30 days in orders for members of the public to make comments before it becomes effective.