|
|
| |
| Fri, Sep. 5, 2008 |  |
 |
|
||
| | Benefits should be tied to citizenship, bill author says
Saturday, Jan 22, 2005 By Doug Thompson Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - Only United States citizens should be eligible to apply for benefits provided by the government, state Sen. Jim Holt, R-Springdale, said in a news conference on the state Capitol steps Friday. Many U.S. citizens will be discouraged or fearful of applying for benefits they are entitled to if legislation Holt supports passes, replied Shawn McGrew of Bentonville, president of the Arkansas Chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens. Holt said Friday he would introduce legislation that would require proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration and for benefit eligibility. It also would require agencies and individuals to report suspected illegal immigrants if they apply for such benefits. "Certainly the overwhelming majority of Arkansans would agree that proof of citizenship to register to vote is vital to maintain the integrity of the election process of our state," Holt said. "And there is no doubt that easy and fraudulent access to welfare benefits is a large magnet that draws illegal aliens into our state." "Most Americans don't like Americans receiving welfare," Holt said. "But I know of no one with any sense of justice who wants to subsidize illegal aliens on welfare at taxpayers' expense." McGrew replied in a telephone interview that the net effect of the bill will be to discourage many who are legally entitled to benefits from applying for them. "The government is not a friendly entity in most Latin American countries," McGrew said. "Latin Americans, including those here legally, are reluctant to apply for benefits to which they are properly entitled. If you enact laws like this which sends the message that they are not wanted, they'll be even less willing to apply." "The kids are always the ones who pay the cost of things like this," McGrew said. "There are kids who are U.S. citizens whose parents won't apply for benefits because of anti-immigrant laws." |
