Public Benefits for Illegal Immigrants
Re “Immigrants Assail Plan to Tighten Sponsorship Rules,†June 25: I am one of those immigrants sponsored by a family member. The sponsoring was to ensure that I would not become a public charge. And for your information--because we took this sponsorship seriously--I worked and never did become a public charge .J.J. and never planned to become a public charge. Further, if the INS took this sponsorship seriously, the present problem would not have occurred.
If sponsors were held responsible, the welfare problem would be greatly decreased. And my question is, why is this not being handled correctly? If I wish to bring in a family member, I would sponsor that person, stating that I was responsible--not the welfare department. And I expect this to be the norm, not the exception.
MARCIA WEISS
Rancho Palos Verdes
* Re Column Left, June 25: Like Robert Scheer, I am a liberal. But I am also deeply opposed to extending benefits and jobs to illegal immigrants, including free public education.
Scheer must realize that the biggest victims of illegal immigration are poor Americans of every ethnic group--poor whites, blacks and Hispanics. As long as illegal aliens are rewarded with jobs and free public benefits, they will keep coming and poor Americans will slide further into economic misery. Scarce jobs and government resources must be reserved for American citizens and those legally in the country!
TOM LEWIS
Vista
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![[20060326 (LA/A20) -- STATING THE CASE: Marchers organized by unions, religious organizations and immigrants rights groups carry signs and chant in downtown L.A. "People are really upset that all the work they do, everything that they give to this nation, is ignored," said Angelica Salas of the Coalition of Humane Immigrant Rights. -- PHOTOGRAPHER: Photographs by Gina Ferazzi The Los Angeles Times] *** [Ferazzi, Gina -- - 109170.ME.0325.rights.12.GMF- Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times - Thousands of protesters march to city hall in downtown Los Angeles Saturday, March 25, 2006. They are protesting against House-passed HR 4437, an anti-immigration bill that opponents say will criminalize millions of immigrant families and anyone who comes into contact with them.]](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/722dda1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1983x1322+109+0/resize/840x560!/format/webp/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fzbk%2Fdamlat_images%2FLA%2FLA_PHOTO_ARCHIVE%2FSDOCS%2854%29%2Fkx3lslnc.JPG)
