Undocumented immigrants lose government aid

Salt Lake Tribune ^ | July 11, 2010 | Julia Lyon

[Colofornian]

At the beginning of July, more than 2,000 families with undocumented immigrants stopped receiving food stamp benefits due to a change in Utah’s rules. Now a growing number of them are showing up at emergency food pantries confused and needing help.

“But, of course, I have to feed my family,” said an undocumented mother of five who works as a housekeeper at a nursing home. She is among those who recently lost food aid.

Earlier this year, the state announced it would begin to fully count the income earned by all members of a household when determining food stamp eligibility. Previously, only a portion of undocumented immigrants’ income was counted in the food stamp calculation, due to the limitations of an old computer system.

That meant, in some prior cases, that a family with several undocumented members might qualify for food stamps although a family of native Utahns making the same amount of money might not.

“We believe this is fair and equitable across the board to treat all people equally when it comes to calculating the benefits that people get when they apply for food stamps,” said Curt Stewart, a spokesman for the state Department of Workforce Services, which oversees the food stamp program.

Despite the new rules, a blended family with children born in America and undocumented parents could still qualify for help if their income was low enough. The new computer-based eligibility system began July 1.

But the families who have showed up at Hildegarde’s Pantry at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Salt Lake City have not understood the bureaucratic changes and wonder if Americans are being given preference over them.

“I’m worried about running out of food,” said Lydia Herrera, the pantry director. “Everybody is complaining about that: ‘they cut my food stamps.’”

Because families received the final decision in mid- to late June, they were often not prepared for the financial hit. The housekeeper’s family normally received about $300 in food stamps each month. Now she plans to visit pantries more often seeking donated food.

“We need to eat right for the [children’s] health,” she said.

Not all pantries are reporting a bump in need from the Latino population. However, some pantries do not inquire about a family’s specific circumstances.

In addition to the 2,220 households that lost benefits, another group will qualify for fewer food stamp dollars now that their income is fully counted. The number in that group was not available from the Department of Workforce Services this week. The state had originally estimated that a total of almost 8,000 households could be affected by the food stamp rule change.

Gina Cornia, the executive director of the advocacy group Utahns Against Hunger, said organizations like hers or others should perhaps follow up with Latino families at pantries to see if the rule change is the reason they’re in need.

Even if they don’t qualify for food stamps, these remain poor, struggling families, she said.

“The failing of the food stamp program is that it doesn’t capture all the families that need help,” Cornia said. “If you make one dollar over, you’re not eligible.”

And not providing food stamps doesn’t mean these families’ needs are going to diminish, said state Sen. Luz Robles, D-Salt Lake City.

"The cost is going to shift somewhere else or there is going to be other social consequences of not having food for people,” she said.

Yet she recognized that Utahns of all backgrounds are struggling right now.

“I’m more concerned about the children,” Robles said. “The children are the ones who are impacted. They are the future in the nation.”

[I Buried My Guns]

“I’m more concerned about the children,” Robles said. “The children are the ones who are impacted. They are the future in the nation.”

Actually no. It's American children who are the future of our nation. Illegal Mexican children grow up to be illegal Mexican adults, and should, like their parents, GTFO.

[demkicker]

DITTO!!!!!

[bcsco]

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[metmom]

GOOD!!!!

It’s about time.

[Carley]

And how dare the American taxpayer give preference to Americans.

I will sue!!!!

[meyer]

And maybe after they finish cutting off the freeloading illegals, they can start cutting off our own domestic freeloaders - the unemployable base of the democRAT party. They are the perpetual freeloaders, living off the sweat of the taxpayer’s labor since at least the 1960’s.

[Daisyjane69]

“....and wonder if Americans are being given preference over them”

I’m in S. Utah. And that sentiment expressed above is the reason I do not donate to ANY of the food pantries here. I also do not contribute my time, even though Dixie Care & Share is only a few blocks from here.

The illegals here in S. Utah believe they are exactly entitled to everything that legal, taxpaying Americans are. And the LDS enables them.

S. Utah will be a third world place, between this mentality...the economic collapse of Vegas (2 hrs away) and the AZ immigration law.

It won’t be pretty. And I won’t be here.

[McGavin999]

But the families who have showed up at Hildegarde’s Pantry at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Salt Lake City have not understood the bureaucratic changes and wonder if Americans are being given preference over them.

How selfish of us to even think our tax money should go to take care of OUR citizen. Aren't we required to feed the world? Isn't that our sole purpose in life? How can we even think of feeding ourselves when there are illegal families out there who have to spend the money they earn under the table on things like food instead of the luxuries they deserve.

[Sybeck1]

Is the LDS joining in with this to squash past bigotry preceptions? I myself being a Southern Baptist am seeing some leaders in our convention come out anti AZ law to appease past claims it seems.

Utah needs to get on the ball with its own law. Let them go to join the Fruits and Nuts in California!!

[org.whodat]

“But, of course, I have to feed my family,” said an undocumented mother of five who works as a housekeeper at a nursing home.

Poor thing, what makes her think she is entitled to American tax payers money. Oh, that would be politicians wouldn't it.

[Peter W. Kessler]

Solution:

Bus tickets and enough MRE’s for the trip home.

[freedomfiter2]

“I’m more concerned about the children,” Robles said. “The children are the ones who are impacted. They are the future in the nation.”

Yes, they are the future of Mexico. Send them back.

[bigredkitty1]

Agreed. No illegal should ever get ANY US taxpayer-funded assistance.

[Fast Ed97]

Is the LDS joining in with this to squash past bigotry preceptions?

No, the past bigotry associations only apply to blacks. The LDS thinks that Mexicans have ties to some "lost tribe." Therefore, they want to welcome them with open arms and all kinds of goodies with the hopes that they will convert and become super-Mormons.

[nonliberal]

‘they cut my food stamps.’”

They aren't YOUR food stamps, bitch.

[headstamp 2]

“But, of course, I have to feed my family,” said an undocumented mother of five who works as a housekeeper at a nursing home. She is among those who recently lost food aid. “

This says it all. She should try closing her legs as a first step.

[Moby Grape]

“They aren’t YOUR food stamps, bitch.”

FAR TOO MANY cross the border because they see the US as a big CANDY store, and they believe the candy is FREE.

[jimt]

“But, of course, I have to feed my family,”...

She means, "But of course, YOU have to feed my family."

Deport the parasites and their anchor babies too.

[Daisyjane69]

Perhaps.

But the driving factor is that our amigos act as “recruits” for the church. They are convinced to join the LDS church and then sent back temporarily via the system of becoming missionaries for the LDS.

This place is a beautiful, but completely whacked-out area.

Being a right-to-work state, the wages & salaries are lower, which is fine by me, since I detest unions. But our housing bubble is as big as anyplace, since we have a bucketload of CA transplants who were overpaying for housing.

The coddling of illegals here, for religious and social justice reasons, has depressed earnings of people here significantly. Every single time I go into a store of any kind, I find myself behind someone who speaks NO English, has at least three kids in tow, and is paying with a state card.

When I was in Ohio, in 2006, I never could understand the meenies who wanted to put a stop to this. I thought they were just awful. I guess it’s easy when you’re 2000 miles from the border.

Being in S. Utah has changed my opinion. If we don’t put a stop to this crap, we are DONE.

DONE.

[ladyjane]

But the families ... wonder if Americans are being given preference over them.

And that would be so unfair. LOL