Bill would target benefits for illegal immigrants
Posted: Saturday, January 05, 2008
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Gov. Dave Heineman is targeting illegal immigrants in a proposal that would require state agencies to verify any resident applying for state benefits is in the United States legally.
The proposal will be introduced as a bill in the Legislature, which begins its 2008 session next week. The bill is a cooperative effort with Attorney General Jon Bruning and the bill's sponsor, Sen. Mike Friend of Omaha.
The proposal would help ensure that benefits available to U.S. citizens are preserved for those who truly qualify for assistance, Heineman said at a news conference in Lincoln on Friday.
Heineman said state action is necessary because the federal government has failed to secure the nation's borders. That, in turn, has put a stress on state resources, he said.
"We know this is a difficult and emotional issue," Heineman said, "but it must be addressed."
Illegal immigrants already are forbidden under a 1996 federal law from receiving most state benefits, but Bruning said some state agencies are better than others at verifying the status of benefit applicants.
Bruning said the bill would give agencies a uniform method of checking the status of people who apply for benefits. Though details aren't final, Bruning said he would envision applicants having to sign an affidavit stating they are in the country legally, and then their information would be verified through a Department of Homeland Security database.
An applicant found to be in the country illegally would have his or her benefits cut off immediately, Bruning said.
Heineman said the state would use the information solely for the purpose of distributing benefits and not as a method for the federal government to track illegal immigrants.
Colorado, Oklahoma and Georgia are among states that already have put in place more stringent verification strategies, Bruning said.
The Nebraska bill would prohibit an illegal immigrant from obtaining state or local retirement, welfare, health, disability, public housing, postsecondary education, food assistance or unemployment benefits.
It also would apply to any federal benefits states are authorized to limit under existing law. The proposal also would repeal the 2005 law that allows illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition to attend the University of Nebraska, Bruning said.
The proposal would not affect federally mandated benefits such as emergency medical assistance and short-term emergency disaster relief.
Children born in the United States to illegal immigrants are considered U.S. citizens, so they would be eligible to receive state benefits, Bruning said.
Bruning said he couldn't estimate the cost of benefits currently extended to illegal immigrants.
"The budget is too tight for us to extend even 2, 3 or 4 percent to people who aren't citizens of our country," he said. "At some point you have to draw the line. We draw the line at illegal immigration."
The proposal will be introduced as a bill in the Legislature, which begins its 2008 session next week. The bill is a cooperative effort with Attorney General Jon Bruning and the bill's sponsor, Sen. Mike Friend of Omaha.
The proposal would help ensure that benefits available to U.S. citizens are preserved for those who truly qualify for assistance, Heineman said at a news conference in Lincoln on Friday.
Heineman said state action is necessary because the federal government has failed to secure the nation's borders. That, in turn, has put a stress on state resources, he said.
"We know this is a difficult and emotional issue," Heineman said, "but it must be addressed."
Illegal immigrants already are forbidden under a 1996 federal law from receiving most state benefits, but Bruning said some state agencies are better than others at verifying the status of benefit applicants.
Bruning said the bill would give agencies a uniform method of checking the status of people who apply for benefits. Though details aren't final, Bruning said he would envision applicants having to sign an affidavit stating they are in the country legally, and then their information would be verified through a Department of Homeland Security database.
An applicant found to be in the country illegally would have his or her benefits cut off immediately, Bruning said.
Heineman said the state would use the information solely for the purpose of distributing benefits and not as a method for the federal government to track illegal immigrants.
Colorado, Oklahoma and Georgia are among states that already have put in place more stringent verification strategies, Bruning said.
The Nebraska bill would prohibit an illegal immigrant from obtaining state or local retirement, welfare, health, disability, public housing, postsecondary education, food assistance or unemployment benefits.
It also would apply to any federal benefits states are authorized to limit under existing law. The proposal also would repeal the 2005 law that allows illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition to attend the University of Nebraska, Bruning said.
The proposal would not affect federally mandated benefits such as emergency medical assistance and short-term emergency disaster relief.
Children born in the United States to illegal immigrants are considered U.S. citizens, so they would be eligible to receive state benefits, Bruning said.
Bruning said he couldn't estimate the cost of benefits currently extended to illegal immigrants.
"The budget is too tight for us to extend even 2, 3 or 4 percent to people who aren't citizens of our country," he said. "At some point you have to draw the line. We draw the line at illegal immigration."
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jvillalpando wrote on Jul 13, 2008 10:49 AM:
ROBERT TUFFREE wrote on Jul 6, 2008 7:20 PM:
They have entered our country illegally, and in doing so, they have introduced T.B. back into our country, and other assorted infectious deseases.
They work below minimum wage, which contractors in masonry and construction love, because instead of paying an American a legal wage, the contractor hires illegals - paying a low wage.
THESE contractors keep a good profit margin, and the American working man is out of a job and unable to earn for his family. "
Roger in Mississippi wrote on Jan 31, 2008 8:05 PM:
Grass roots enforcement is the only way our country will ever get a handle on this deplorable situation. "
JS wrote on Jan 5, 2008 11:45 AM:
USA Steve wrote on Jan 5, 2008 8:36 AM: