Just saw this on the news.  Apparently the law has been around since 1996, but not consistently enforced.  The gov is cracking down.

 

[President Donald Trump on Thursday signed a memorandum that will direct federal agencies to enforce a longstanding rule requiring the sponsors of legal immigrants to reimburse the government for any public benefits the immigrant uses, such as Medicaid and food stamps.]

 

So essentially, if you sponsor your Thai wife to America, you divorce years later and she obtains government benefits, you're on the hook to reimburse the gov. 

Am I reading this right? 

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/trump-memo-requires-immigrants-sponsors-to-reimburse-government-for-welfare/ar-AABOBRm?ocid=wispr

 

The affidavit of support you sign is only valid for two years, after he or she, enters the country and their passport is stamped with the temporary I-551