Fear of deportation drives people off food stamps in US

WTOP News (Washington DC) ^ | June 6, 2017 5:25 pm | AP

[COBOL2Java]

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NEW YORK (AP) — A crackdown on illegal immigration under President Donald Trump has driven some poor people to take a drastic step: opt out of federal food assistance because they are fearful of deportation, activists and immigrants say.

People who are not legal residents of the U.S. are not eligible to take part in what is formally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

But many poor families include a mix of non-legal residents and legal ones, such as children who have citizenship because they were born in the U.S. In those cases, it is often an adult who is not a legal resident who submits the application.

Some now feel that is too dangerous under a president who has made immigration enforcement a priority. Throughout the U.S., there are accounts of people resisting efforts of nonprofit organizations to sign them up for food stamps, letting benefits lapse or withdrawing from the program because of the perceived risk.

“They don’t want to put their name and address on a form for a government public benefit out of fear that they’ll be sought out and asked to leave,” said Teresa Smith, executive director of Catholic Charities of Orange County, California.

The food stamp program provides monthly payments, typically about $125 per eligible household member, to poor families to buy essential staples. Going without can be an extreme decision, advocates say.

“This means less food on the table, fewer meals in houses where the kids have rights because they are U.S. citizens,” said Andrew Hammond, an attorney for Chicago’s Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law.

[COBOL2Java]

Call me crazy, but aren't food stamps - I dunno - supposed to be for LEGAL immigrants?

[Farmer Dean]

Life’s tough all over.Try being in the country as legal citizens and these problems all disappear.

[Mamzelle]

So much winning.

[VideoPaul]

And the bad part is.....????

[Drumbo]

Fear of deportation drives people off food stamps in US
They say that like it's a bad thing.

[higgmeister]

"Saul Alinsky you magnificent bstrd we read your book!

Learn from the enemy to stay ahead. That's what winners do!

[rottndog]

Immigrants are not supposed to be a burden on the taxpayer...legal or not.

[aquila48]

They make it sound like it’s a bad thing.

[GnuThere]

Yet another way Obama wanted to handicap America through economic serfdom to illegals.

[joshua c]

Call me crazy, but aren’t food stamps - I dunno - supposed to be for LEGAL immigrants?

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The workaround is to have an anchor baby. The baby, a US citizen, gets the food stamps. The parents, illegal aliens, get the checks. So illegals can and do get welfare benefits.

That is why getting rid of the anchor baby provision is so important,

[Paladin2]

Hussein = Food Stamp Prezzy...

[COBOL2Java]

Thinking: "El Trump taking away our benefits! So mean!"

"Sigh...maybe better to go back to Mexico..."

[Vince Ferrer]

I thought all these illegals had jobs and were contributors to society? That’s what activists say.

[BAW]

***Winning***

[soycd]

They can go back to their own country and make their country great. Just GTFO if you are not here legally and contributing.

[sheana]

Why do we want legal immigrants that suck off the taxpayers? I have a real problem with our immigration. Legal and illegal.

[Mears]

I needed some good news——yaaaay !!!!!!!!!!!!!

.

[Kozak]

Boo f##king hoo.

[Chode]

WINNING!!!

[hal ogen]

Hahaha. Self-deport NOW...or we will kick your illegal alien invader a**es out!