Warner Signs Immigrant Aid Limits; Va. to Require Proof Of Legal Statu

The Washington Post ^ | March 30, 2005 | Chris L. Jenkins

[StayAt HomeMother]

Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner (D) signed a measure Tuesday that tightens laws prohibiting illegal immigrants from receiving public benefits, including Medicaid and public assistance.

On the last day the governor could act on the nearly 950 bills that passed the Republican-controlled General Assembly, Warner waded into an issue that divided the legislature this year: what public benefits and other services the state should offer to illegal immigrants, a population that has nearly tripled in Virginia since 1996, according to federal estimates.

The legislation -- House Bill 1798 and Senate Bill 1143 -- requires state and local governments to verify whether anyone who requests non-emergency public benefits is in the United States legally. ... bills that would have banned illegal immigrants from the state's public colleges and universities and barred them from receiving workers' compensation benefits, but those measures failed.

Supporters of the legislation said Virginia's public resources should be used only for legal immigrants, particularly as the cost of many services, such as Medicaid, continues to rise.

Warner said the pair of bills … merely codified existing federal law, which prevents illegal immigrants from receiving certain public benefits.

The legislation … applies only to illegal immigrants 19 and older. Immigrants of any age still will be eligible for emergency aid, such as disaster relief and pregnancy tests.

… Many opponents also argued that there was very little evidence that illegal immigrants were raiding public services wholesale.

"There may have been some election-year activities surrounding the bill," Warner said.

Several activists said Warner's signing of the bill sent a dangerous message … "It serves no other purpose but to fan the flames of anti-immigrant sentiment . . . and that is simply wrong." … it will create onerous red tape for people here legally.

[itsahoot]

Eventhough we passed prop 200 in Az, the democrat Gov and democrat AG here have refused to enforce it.

What! You mean the Executive branch of government can disobey a law? Someone better inform Jeb.

[sasafras]

" What! You mean the Executive branch of government can disobey a law? Someone better inform Jeb."

EXACTLY!!!! Jeb is weenie just like his brother and his dad. They are liberal elitist from Mass who act like they have roots in Texas and play the conservative until it is needed then show their true liberal leanings.

[R. Scott]

Even a broken clock is right twice a day.