Posted on 05/28/2006 8:44:47 AM PDT by Pikamax
Senate OKs crackdown on housing for illegals By Casey Ross Boston Herald Reporter
Friday, May 26, 2006 - Updated: May 27, 2006 01:04 AM EST
Illegal immigrants would be barred from taxpayer-funded housing under a proposal passed by the state Senate yesterday, the last of three immigration measures to receive unanimous support from lawmakers.
The passage of the housing proposal, which still needs approval from House-Senate negotiators, came amid high emotions over an issue that has drummed up significant debate in local communities.
“It’s unconscionable to be giving taxpayer benefits and public money to illegal aliens,” said Framingham Housing Authority Executive Director William Casamento, who wrote a letter supporting the Senate measure. “There is no more public housing built. It is a very finite resource.”
Immigrant advocates argue, however, that state attempts to crack down on illegals, whether it be on taxpayer benefits or employment by Bay State companies, will only drive them further underground and divide communities.
“(Illegal immigrants) are not seeking to get ahead in any line anywhere,” said Thomas Keown of the Irish Immigration Center. “Turning all manner of state agencies into customs and immigration enforcers is not the way to go.”
In addition to empowering housing authorities to check applicants’ immigration status, the Senate’s measures would create a state hotline to report employers who hire illegal immigrants and force courts to confirm defendants’ immigration status at arraignments or risk losing funding.
State Sen. Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth), who proposed two of the three measures, said he was continually hearing from local housing officials who complained they had no means of ensuring that taxpayer benefits were not going to illegal immigrants.
“It’s insane,” he said. “They broke the laws of our country to get here and they’re getting subsidized taxpayer housing at the expense of needy American citizens.” Immigrant advocates have argued there is no data showing illegal immigrants are seeking or receiving public housing benefits.
well. There goes half the city of Lawrence ...
you kow, that's not just a good point, it's an excellent point. I am so damn tired of the wink wink attitude these 'advocates' have for illegals. The stupid open secret is that THEY ARE USING HOUSING, FOOD STAMPS, ETC ETC ETC!!! I'm so sick of this I feel like I'm going to freak out.
"Maybe some of them can shack up with Teddy. There's lots of room at the Kennedy Kompound."
Excellent idea...and we can power those facilities with wind turbines supplemented with Hugo Chavez Oil from Venezuela plus give Fat Ted a chance for new Dem voter school of recruits. Socialist Nirvana in Taxachussetts I tell ya.
I'm holding my breath for a similar law here in CA. I should be dead soon.
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