Exceptions to the 5-year ban on Food Stamps:
Children (under 18 years old). (Sec 402(a)(2)(J))
Aliens who were lawfully residing in the U.S. and were age 65 or older on August 22, 1996. (Sec 402(a)(2)(I))
Aliens who are receiving assistance for blindness or disability. (Sec 402(a)(2)(F))
Certain Indians. (Sec 402(a)(2)(G))
Certain Hmong and Highland Laotians. (Sec 402(a)(2)(K))
Refugees and Asylees, aliens whose deportation is being withheld, Amerasians, and Cuban/Haitian entrants, and victims of a severe form of trafficking. (Sec 402(a)(2)(A))
Veterans, members of the military on active duty, and their spouses and unmarried dependent children. (Sec 402(a)(2)(C))
Legal Permanent Residents who have worked 40 qualifying quarters of coverage. After 12/31/96, no quarter can be considered a “qualifying quarter” if the individual is receiving a “federal meanstested public benefit.” (See Section D below for the definition) Quarters worked by parents when the alien was a child, or by a spouse while married, may be counted by spouses and dependent children as satisfying the 40 quarter requirement. (Sec 402(a)(2)(B))
More info and source: http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/immigration/restrictions-sum.htm#sec1
I must have missed the percentages on that one. Could you show me specifically where you were showing me how many illegal aliens were on food stamps. I appreciate all the info about Hmong refugees and vets and all, but that really wasn't what I asked for.
You said there was a HIGH percentage of illegals on welfare. I asked for documentation on this. So far, we have seen some links to a Mass program that you think establishes that they are on state programs. I could not find any evidence of eligibility, much less enrollment, and asked you to clarify. Then you posted that 33 per cent of CA illegals are on some kind of assistance. Touche, and I agreed that is awful. A few questions on that, but your point stands. Then you post some fed regs on everyone who is eligible for food stamps. I have to say again, you have not answered the question at all, which is to ask if you have any evidence that "large percentages of illegals are on welfare." The cursory look I took at your link here doesn't even seem to establish eligilibility, much less enrollment.
In the exception list, they list under 18. That means whether they are illegal aliens or not, kids under 18 are eligible. Also, it lists Haitians and Cubans, regardless of status.
You mentioned Apopka, Florida. Just so happens I have spent much time in areas around "The Indoor Foliage Capital of the World" (Apopka), and I have seen quite a few illegal aliens who work the fern farms. My observations tell me that it seems when some of the guys are working, the women are in the homes.
We were out at Wekiva State Park near that town having a nice BBQ and struck up a conversation in Spanish with some illegals. The girl was a real fox. Anyway, I know she came along into the USA just for the ride to be with her friends. She did not work--some of the others did. My wife got the impression from her conversation that they received some sort of assistance and not all of the group actually worked--she definitely did not work.
I believe what you see in CA (33% getting public assistance) is similar to the rest of the country. I believe that 33% figure is low. Many of these stats are based on older data, and the surge of the invasion in the last few years increased the percentage of nonworkers, as many who came pre-Bush, pre-surge had a higher percentage who actually worked.
It will be very hard to find hard stats, although CA does have some, as we saw above. Living here in Florida, I have seen it first hand (women I have dated) and have heard stories from others. One of my clients worked in a non-profit organization that helped low income people and she said there are hoardes of illegal aliens finding ways to draw public assistance. It bothered her so much she took early retirement.