This makes me furious!! Especially since it's encouraging the illegials to take advantage of our government funding :reallymad

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-stamp13oct13,1,224178.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

Food-Stamp Program Finally Speaks Their Language
KMEX helps an effort to get Latino immigrants to apply for food stamps. An O.C. group takes it a step further and offers a class on how to do it.
By Jennifer Delson, Times Staff Writer
October 13, 2006


Though it goes against the conventional wisdom of anti-illegal immigration supporters, those who enroll the poor in the federal food stamp program say they've struggled for years to get immigrant Latino families signed up.

Now a Spanish-language news report and television ad campaign have spurred thousands of immigrants in Orange County over the last several weeks to contact a nonprofit organization that offers a Spanish-language class called "Food Stamps in Four Hours."

The stream of immigrants contrasts sharply with what was going on just a few months ago when only a handful of immigrants would attend the free course.

The news report and ads were heard throughout Southern California, but those who responded in Orange County were directed to a nonprofit organization. Most other callers to the toll-free number were directed to county offices.

The Orange County strategy has been lauded throughout the state as a way to reach immigrants who are reluctant to get help from the government.

"They won't come on their own," said Jerry Sanders, food bank manager of the nonprofit Community Action Partnership of Orange County in Garden Grove. "They come from countries where they think the government isn't to be trusted. They figure there's a catch to free food."

Advocates say immigrants, if here illegally, are also worried about being deported if they apply for food stamps. Or they fear jeopardizing a pending application for residency or citizenship. Illegal immigrants can apply on behalf of their minor children here legally.

Other immigrants say they were simply embarrassed.

"The Mexican man is macho. He doesn't want to come to this country and beg," said Alfonso Chavez, the Community Action Partnership's outreach coordinator. "I tell them this is a program that will help the children. The kids are American-born, and they have a right to this program."

A Los Angeles County Department of Social Services task force is looking at ways to find eligible families to enroll. County workers have signed up families at food banks with only minor success.

"We recognize that people in Orange County are ahead of us," said task force member Bruce Rankin, the executive director of the Westside Food Bank in Los Angeles. "The rest of us in the state are looking at Orange County for ideas." Low participation, he said, "is a dilemma in the state."

The federal government estimates 60% of eligible households participate in the food stamp program nationally. In California, the participation rate drops sharply. A study of 2003 participation rates by Mathematica Policy Research, a nonpartisan research group, showed that 34% of California's working poor participated in the program that year, the third lowest percentage among the 50 states.

There are 30,000 households in Orange County that receive food stamps, federal officials said.

Sanders of the Community Action Partnership estimates more than three times that amount could qualify.

Aliso Viejo resident Jim Gilchrist, co-founder of the Minuteman Project, which fights illegal immigration, said the Orange County program encouraged illegal immigration.
These immigrants and their children "should only be given life-saving medical care," Gilchrist said.

"If we encourage illegal alien families to come forward and exploit the … system, aren't we encouraging more illegal immigration? We have to cut these benefits off."

In 2004, Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service and the Mexican Embassy agreed to jointly disseminate brochures and create the public service announcements.

The agreement led Mexican Consul Luis Miguel Ortiz Haro to tout the food stamp program on Univision's KMEX Channel 34 six weeks ago. The newscast included the partnership's phone number. More than 1,200 people called the partnership in the following days, Sanders said.

Then, two weeks ago, the Department of Agriculture began to air a monthlong series of ads on Spanish-language television in Southern California and three other markets in the U.S.

That pisses me off.

O M G You have got to be kidding me!

:wow you know this bothers me because my father is homeless and he has told me that he had hard time getting assitance, I didnt believe him, now I wonder :thinkin he is a US citizen that is in great need of help and he has a hard time with it and then I read they are reaching out to illegal immigrants? I mean I understand feeding the kids, I wouldnt want any child to go hungary, but still, it bugs me.

:censored :vent :vent :reallymad wtf?!?!? that's really screwed up. i completely agree that it encourages illegal immigration. why would you stay where you if you can get free aid and free food?!!? :reallymad :reallymad

:rolleyes :no

I have a feeling that they are doing that because they've had a severe lack of participation, and when that happens then they could lose their funding for the program all together, so now they are broadcasting on a wide scale to bring in more people.

:puke:

This is a very touchy subject for me, I dont agree with ILLEGAL immigrants coming to this country and receiving aid, BUT my thoughts change when there are children involved. CA is a VERY liberal state, and most immigrants filter into CA...I feel way more on this subject, but honestly cant express my opinion on this subject by typing...

:censored :rolleyes

Why is it that someone who is here illegally can get assistance like that, but a US Citizen can't? Not to long ago I was really broke and was turned down for government aid. I worked two jobs that made my total income $1,000 per month, I was going to school full time AND I was taking care of my disabled mother. The $1,000 only paid the rent and the only reason we had a little bit of food on our table was because the church down the street gave us food through the Angel Network. Where was the government for me and my mom through all of that? No where. :no

However, I do have to say that no child should starve because their parent's status of citizenship in this country. I just wonder why these places that are helping them get food stamps aren't helping them with paper work to become legal citizen's so they can work for a living. Seems like the more productive thing to do.

This is a very touchy subject for me, I dont agree with ILLEGAL immigrants coming to this country and receiving aid, BUT my thoughts change when there are children involved. CA is a VERY liberal state, and most immigrants filter into CA...I feel way more on this subject, but honestly cant express my opinion on this subject by typing...

I understand what you are saying. My great-grandfather came over here from Cuba, but he did it the legal way. I hate to say it, but I am almost positive that a majority of these illegial aliens are coming over here and using their children as a ploy to recieve these food stamps. I don't want any child to starve, but these parents are using their kids to get the foodstamps :mumble

:reallymad

My great-grandfather came over here from Cuba, but he did it the legal way. I hate to say it, but I am almost positive that a majority of these illegial aliens are coming over here and using their children as a ploy to recieve these food stamps. I don't want any child to starve, but these parents are using their kids to get the foodstamps :mumble

I have no issues for aid for those who are here legally but illegally? That's just wrong. This is OUR money paying for stuff. The taxpayers foot this bill folks. It irritates me that my husbands hard earned money goes to people who are not even legal citizens! Yes, they use their children. :mad

Well im no American, however, we have the same thing here- and we have had it for years.

Our government works, we have one of the best economies in the world. We have everything here. We have FREE medical insurance, that's right- FREE. If i have a baby in Australia- i don't need no private health insurance, i don't need to pay any hospital bills. i have that for FREE. Infact- we get paid to have babies here! Our government gives us 4,000 k with each baby we have. Our government also gives us a 15,000k first home buyers grant. We have a welfare system that WORKS- if you earn under the amount- then you and your family DO get welfare- yes it is TAX payers money, but it WORKS. We have a very very small population of homeless people. In my first 5 minutes in LA, i saw more homeless people then i had ever seen in my life. Why is that? Because your government DOES NOT WORK!

With the amount of people your country has, with the amount of money your government has- you guys should have the best benefits on the planet. You guys shouldn't have to worry about illegal immigrants, nore homeless people. If there is anyone to blame here- i would be blaming your government.

Immigrants are not bad people. Illegal or not. They have came over from their country to search for a better life. WHICH EVERY HUMAN BEING DESERVES. Now if your government- does not have the proper border control- then its their fault! You can't expect a person to not cross that road if they want to go there and there is nothing in the way to stop them. It's common sense.

Before attacking the illegal immigrants, i would be thinking strongly on one thing. YOUR GOVERNMENT! Obviously, they are missing something. Obviously they are worrying about bigger things, like the war, and instead- not putting enough funding into your borders.

As americans, you have the right to be mad. 100% right. However i don't think attacking the illegal immigrants is the right thing. Your borders need to be better protected. There needs to be tougher penalties if caught trying to cross them illegally, there needs to be alot of work done on them for them to actually work.

My husband is from El Salvador, and he came across when he was a child. Legally. He has served in the army for over 10 years, became more of an American and done alot more for america then alot of men over in the States, yet he still occasionally gets looked as like a "poor migrant". That makes me SO ANGRY! Just because he isn't white, he is automatically looked at as a "BEANER". He felt the need to lie to me about where he really came from because i am a rich white girl. To me, thats sad.

So i think, before attacking the immigrants. You should be attacking the damn government. THEY ARE NO GOOD! Our men fight everyday for your country- and what the fuck does the government do? NOTHING! They sit in their cozy ass chairs, in a big fuckin house with a whole lot of security, sipping $100 ounces of coffee.. And you would think- with all the 100s of billions of dollars they have made from this damn war- they would help out the homeless, they would have better health funding FOR EVERYONE, they would fix the borders & help out the hurricane damaged parts of your country... haha yeah- right.

If your borders were properly protected, you wouldn't have this problem.

And to simply to answer the original question- no child, no matter what colour, what nationality, deserves to starve.

Well im no American, however, we have the same thing here- and we have had it for years.

Our government works, we have one of the best economies in the world. We have everything here. We have FREE medical insurance, that's right- FREE. If i have a baby in Australia- i don't need no private health insurance, i don't need to pay any hospital bills. i have that for FREE. Infact- we get paid to have babies here! Our government gives us 4,000 k with each baby we have. Our government also gives us a 15,000k first home buyers grant. We have a welfare system that WORKS- if you earn under the amount- then you and your family DO get welfare- yes it is TAX payers money, but it WORKS. We have a very very small population of homeless people. In my first 5 minutes in LA, i saw more homeless people then i had ever seen in my life. Why is that? Because your government DOES NOT WORK!

With the amount of people your country has, with the amount of money your government has- you guys should have the best benefits on the planet. You guys shouldn't have to worry about illegal immigrants, nore homeless people. If there is anyone to blame here- i would be blaming your government.

Immigrants are not bad people. Illegal or not. They have came over from their country to search for a better life. WHICH EVERY HUMAN BEING DESERVES. Now if your government- does not have the proper border control- then its their fault! You can't expect a person to not cross that road if they want to go there and there is nothing in the way to stop them. It's common sense.

Before attacking the illegal immigrants, i would be thinking strongly on one thing. YOUR GOVERNMENT! Obviously, they are missing something. Obviously they are worrying about bigger things, like the war, and instead- not putting enough funding into your borders.

As americans, you have the right to be mad. 100% right. However i don't think attacking the illegal immigrants is the right thing. Your borders need to be better protected. There needs to be tougher penalties if caught trying to cross them illegally, there needs to be alot of work done on them for them to actually work.

My husband is from El Salvador, and he came across when he was a child. Legally. He has served in the army for over 10 years, became more of an American and done alot more for america then alot of men over in the States, yet he still occasionally gets looked as like a "poor migrant". That makes me SO ANGRY! Just because he isn't white, he is automatically looked at as a "BEANER". He felt the need to lie to me about where he really came from because i am a rich white girl. To me, thats sad.

So i think, before attacking the immigrants. You should be attacking the damn government. THEY ARE NO GOOD! Our men fight everyday for your country- and what the fuck does the government do? NOTHING! They sit in their cozy ass chairs, in a big fuckin house with a whole lot of security, sipping $100 ounces of coffee.. And you would think- with all the 100s of billions of dollars they have made from this damn war- they would help out the homeless, they would have better health funding FOR EVERYONE, they would fix the borders & help out the hurricane damaged parts of your country... haha yeah- right.

If your borders were properly protected, you wouldn't have this problem.

And to simply to answer the original question- no child, no matter what colour, what nationality, deserves to starve.

I have to agree. People, illegal or not, do not deserve to starve.

Simmy, you have a lot of good points. Our government has a lot of kinks in it that need to be worked out.

But the point is our tax dollars should NOT be going towards helping people who want to come to this country and get everything handed to them. It's a double edged sword really. There are immigrants who come here and want a better life. They want to work and earn money and be a productive part of society. Helping those people get on their feet is great. But there are so many others that come here and expect us to roll over and do things their way and support them too. I have a serious problem with that. The problem with our government is them trying to please everyone. Well, it's life, you just can't make everyone happy all the time. Yes, we're America, and we're a free country. But we aren't even spending money to take care of the pre-existing problems we have with our own people.

Thats so right. And i addressed that. But when it comes down to it, its your government screwing you over, not the illegal immigrants. I understand some come over and just expect the world- we have detention centres that are like 5 star hotels and alot still complain, but if the government was doing their job, they wouldn't be in the country in first place.

:)

After reading that Alex, I have a bit more compassion.

I read what you wrote too Alex. And i do agree.

That's why my theory with the government being the screwed up ones here stands. They DONT make it easy enough for them to come in legally- yet they make it easy enough for them to come in ILLEGALLY!

I do have compassion for these people. They are good people. We are all migrants, and we all deserve to be happy.

Sorry i edited, I just didn't want to upset anybody!

understandable hun.

I cerainly don't agree with illegal immigrants to this country recieving free aid....if it's helping legal immigrants, than sure, why not? But helping illegal immigrants who don't pay taxes isn't going to help anyone...I mean, there goes food stamps and free aid for people who DO pay taxes...what about them and their kids?

Simmy, you have a lot of good points. Our government has a lot of kinks in it that need to be worked out.

But the point is our tax dollars should NOT be going towards helping people who want to come to this country and get everything handed to them. It's a double edged sword really. There are immigrants who come here and want a better life. They want to work and earn money and be a productive part of society. Helping those people get on their feet is great. But there are so many others that come here and expect us to roll over and do things their way and support them too. I have a serious problem with that. The problem with our government is them trying to please everyone. Well, it's life, you just can't make everyone happy all the time. Yes, we're America, and we're a free country. But we aren't even spending money to take care of the pre-existing problems we have with our own people.


EXACTLY!!!! I was going to respond to something similar, but Michelle took the words right out of my mouth.

I have nothing against immigrants, but for Pete's sake, do it the LEGAL way! I am sick and tired of the illegals using these programs that are for American citizens!

Also Simone, your government is obviously different since it's a Socialist country and we are Democratic country. Our systems are quite different.

simmy i agree you do have alot of good points. it just seems like you are neglecting to see the fact that our government is fighting a war (despite your opinion on the war it is a fact of life here), we have national debt (of over a trillion dollars), we have illegal immigration that is exorbetant. now in regards to the us not securing our border argument let me tell you something: 1. if we secure our borders and make it tougher for people to get into the country illegally the government is racist. 2. if we don't secure our borders we are allowing people to come in and take advantage of us.

its difficult for people not on the mexico border (and yes i know immigrants come from everywhere) to understand what its like. our crime rates are insanely high, esp. right across the border, we have minutemen attempting to protect us and yet they are doing something immoral. i don't think people realize that. the illegal imimgrants regardless what anyone says about their rights THEY ARE BREAKING THE LAW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yes people deserve a better life and don't deserve to starve but they need to go about getting aid in this country legally.

I knew I shouldn't have said anything!

This will sound callous, so be prepared.

You say it's hard to become legal. Yes, it is, as well it should be. Yet there are many MANY immigrants that do it legally, and do it right.

How can a person be an illegal immigrant but not be able to help it? What is an accidentally illegal immigrant?

This will sound callous, so be prepared.

You say it's hard to become legal. Yes, it is, as well it should be. Yet there are many MANY immigrants that do it legally, and do it right.

How can a person be an illegal immigrant but not be able to help it? What is an accidentally illegal immigrant?
:agree

This will sound callous, so be prepared.

You say it's hard to become legal. Yes, it is, as well it should be. Yet there are many MANY immigrants that do it legally, and do it right.

How can a person be an illegal immigrant but not be able to help it? What is an accidentally illegal immigrant?

Its easy for people that are born here to say something like that....I am definitely not an advocate on people getting here illegally, but I think people definitely do not deserve to starve. Its shitty that people have attitudes like this....and no I dont think because they're here illegally that they should automatically get into programs that are designed for people legally living in the US that are in need of it, I guess bottom line....I dont think anybody needs to starve in this country when we have MORE then adequate resources to help everybody.

for the record, everybody that is in my family has come to this country the right way (or to my knowledge at least). I know people shouldnt put themselves in situations like this by coming over here illegally, but if you were over there or somewhere really crappy making $20/wk and barely being able to feed your kids, you would take drastic measures to get yourself out of that situation as it takes 10++ yrs usually to get here legally. Just something to consider....

Alex, you should of left it up! :)

Its easy for people that are born here to say something like that....I am definitely not an advocate on people getting here illegally, but I think people definitely do not deserve to starve. Its shitty that people have attitudes like this....and no I dont think because they're here illegally that they should automatically get into programs that are designed for people legally living in the US that are in need of it, I guess bottom line....I dont think anybody needs to starve in this country when we have MORE then adequate resources to help everybody.

I am absolutely not saying that anyone deserves to starve. I was countering Sonia's comment (that she has edited) stating that "it's hard to become legal".

:edit
I just wanted to add something. You say "it's easy for people that are born here to say something like that..." . Yes I was born here, and I still don't understand. So if you can answer the question, I really would like to know - I'm not being a smartass, maybe I'm just naive or something. I really don't understand how you can be accidentally illegal. If you can give me a legitimate answer to that question, then perhaps I can look different on those that are illegal but can't help it.

Alex, you should of left it up! :)

Ok, here it goes again, I edited my previous post but I guess some of you don't really have an idea of how difficult is for mexicans to get a US VISITOR visa , I'm not sure about other countries but I know about the mexican process, here it goes:

1. You need to call a phone # to make an appointment, they charge $1.50 dollars per minute, they give you an appointment for about 3 months later.
2. After that you need to fill out a form on the internet and print it out since you need to show up at the interview with it (kind of difficult for people who don't even know what internet is).
3. You have to make a deposit to a US govt account of $100 dollars and show up at the interview with the receipt, otherwise they won't even see you, there is no exceptions/special rates for low income people (the minimum wage is $4.50, yes four dollars and fifty cents for 8 hrs of work, when you have a family to support to come up with this fee is almost a miracle), and it is non-refundable.
4. To attend your appointment you need to find a way to transport yourself to one of the 7 only cities in which this service is offered.
5. Let's say you make it to this point, at the appointment you need to show your links to Mexico so you can convince the embassy that you won't come to the US to work, bank statements, real estate owned, letters from work stating how much you make, etc.
6. If the visa is denied, you are not able to apply again for at least one year.

And all this is only to come to the US as a VISITOR. To obtain a WORK visa is near to impossible for people with a college degree, imagine for people who don't have an education.

I think that coming to the US illegally is wrong but at the same time I've been on the other side of the fence, it is almost impossible to come here legally so I can understand people running across the desert to have a better life than the one they can have down there. I'm not saying it's right, I just say I understand.

I sincerely hope this doesn't upset anybody, which is why I deleted my other post where I was saying basically the same. This is JMO :)

ETA, In my other post I was also saying that there is two kinds of immigrants, the ones who come here to live off the government programs and the ones that come here to bust their ass off working to have a better life, to the first ones I agree they should be sent back to where they came from, but the second ones deserve all my respect. JMO

I am absolutely not saying that anyone deserves to starve. I was countering Sonia's comment (that she has edited) stating that "it's hard to become legal".

:edit
I just wanted to add something. You say "it's easy for people that are born here to say something like that..." . Yes I was born here, and I still don't understand. So if you can answer the question, I really would like to know - I'm not being a smartass, maybe I'm just naive or something. I really don't understand how you can be accidentally illegal. If you can give me a legitimate answer to that question, then perhaps I can look different on those that are illegal but can't help it.

forget it...

No, no one deserves to starve. But again, here we go trying to save everyone else's asses before we help our own. We have tons of homeless people that are American citizens. Tons of people that can't get work and have to resort to welfare. And tons more people who are too freaking lazy to get off their ass and get a job, so instead they suck the government for all it's worth. This country is upside down on social security. People who worked their rear ends off for YEARS can't even get the money they deserve now. But we want to turn around and make other people feel all cozy when they come over here. It sounds selfish, but we would have a lot less problems if we just took care of our own before we went worrying about everyone else. (We meaning America)

I just want to edit this to say one more thing. I think people coming to America to give themselves and their families a better life is great! It takes a huge leap of faith to do that. For one of my education classes we watched these videos that followed a few people and families from the start of their immigration process to the end. They were true stories, and some of them were really sad. They had to go through a lot! They worked their butts off to make ends meet at first, and had quite a bit of culture shock. Those people deserve America's help. But it's hard to weed out the ones who come here just for a free ride.

ETA, In my other post I was also saying that there is two kinds of immigrants, the ones who come here to live off the government programs and the ones that come here to bust their ass off working to have a better life, to the first ones I agree they should be sent back to where they came from, but the second ones deserve all my respect. JMO

I totally agree with this!!

ETA, In my other post I was also saying that there is two kinds of immigrants, the ones who come here to live off the government programs and the ones that come here to bust their ass off working to have a better life, to the first ones I agree they should be sent back to where they came from, but the second ones deserve all my respect. JMO



I totally agree Alex :yes

This will sound callous, so be prepared.

You say it's hard to become legal. Yes, it is, as well it should be. Yet there are many MANY immigrants that do it legally, and do it right.

How can a person be an illegal immigrant but not be able to help it? What is an accidentally illegal immigrant?

How? I can tell you exactly how. Say a man came here 20+ years ago, he came 'illegally', but there was not real big laws or enforcement back then for crossing the border, so he was able to come easily to be able to work and support his wife and children who were in Mexico. He was able to obtain a work visa while he was here during the time Amnesty was being granted to 'illegal' workers in the US, and was able to bring his wife and children after about 5 years (he was forced to be separated from his family for years in order to do what he had to do to put food in their mouths). He remained here on a work visa, worked his butt off for years, paid taxes all those years, and became just like any other hard working citizen of this country, contributing to the society. Fast forward to 2006, he has since separated from his wife and re-married. When he re-married his new wife was a permanent resident and soon became a citizen and he was able to obtain a permanent resident card himself. Later he found out that when he re-married to his new wife, for some reason the paperwork to finalize his divorce from his ex-wife had not been complete when he was told it was. Out of spite for some other unrelated reason, his ex-wife reports all of this to her lawyer and they revoke his green card without him even knowing it. All of a sudden, because of a fucking technicality he all of a sudden becomes 'illegal' again. YES accidently. And when he decided to go to Mexico with his now wife to visit his brother, and they were coming home across the border they inform him that his green card is no good and he can't come home. His wife is forced to come back to the US now without her husband. Because of all the fucking red tape and technicalities, now a man who has been in this country for over 20 years, contributing to this society more than some 'citizens' do, cannot come back for at least a year until they 'process' all his paperwork. His wife is now forced to try and find a way to pay for the morgtage to their house and their bills. Good thing that he is a responsible man and has been able to put away money in savings that will help her some. and now she is also forced to be separated from her husband for at least a year. This is just ONE of the thousands of different stories 'illegals' have. And this one happens to be MY STEPFATHER. My mother's husband, who is at this very moment living in Mexico on his brother's couch because of these technicalities and red tape. Can you now just try and begin to imagine what it must be like for someone who's never even been in this country and is just trying to get a chance at a decent life for thier family? And many that even do get that chance have to be here for many years, some more than 10 years before their family can even come over?? so they are forced to be separated from their families for that long. ALL that they have to go through to just even be able to try for that chance? Everyone is quick to talk and to judge and to talk about 'those illegal aliens' like if they weren't people, like if they were some kinda animal. These are humans with hard stories, and lives and families. Oh the crime rates oh those criminals. I hope that none of you even have to be put that in that position in life and have to experience what its like to be on the 'other side of the fence'.:no

It's simply like this..

Your government is far from bankrupt, even if it is in a trillion dollars debt. Your government makes enormous amounts of money by war- thats why it seems your country is always in one. WITH THE MONEY IT MAKES BY WAR- IT COULD BE GOING ONTO PROACTIVE THINGS- like to americans who really need it!

Your country isn't going to protect it's self from immigrants if it can't protect its own borders.

I don't think the whole food stamp issue is the best idea, but if im not mistaken. These food stamps are from a non profit organization. So wouldn't that mean it's NOT money from TAX PAYERS?!

I don't think the whole food stamp issue is the best idea, but if im not mistaken. These food stamps are from a non profit organization. So wouldn't that mean it's NOT money from TAX PAYERS?!

No Simone, food stamps are from the Government. That is what our, meaning Americans' taxes are going towards. It is not a non-profit organization.

Here are some facts pertaining to Food Stamps..
Who can get food stamps?
Anyone can apply for food stamps. To get food stamps, you and the other people in your household must meet certain conditions. Everyone who is applying in your household must have or apply for a Social Security number and be either a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or have status as a qualified alien. The following qualified aliens are eligible for food stamps without a waiting period:

Legal immigrant children under age 18;
Blind or disabled legal immigrants who receive disability assistance or benefits;
People who legally resided in the U.S. on August 22, 1996, and were age 65 or older on August 22, 1996;
Lawful permanent residents who are active duty members or veterans of the U.S. armed forces or a spouse or a child of a veteran or active duty service member;
Refugees admitted under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA);
Asylees under section 208 of the INA;
Deportees or removal withheld under section 234(h) or 241(b)(3) of the INA;
Cuban or Haitian entrants under section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980;
Amerasian immigrants under section 584 of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs Appropriations Act of 1988.
The following legal aliens are eligible without a waiting period even if they are not qualified aliens:

Hmong or Highland Laotian tribal members (including their spouses and children) who helped the U.S. military during the Vietnam era;
American Indians born in Canada;
Members of Indian tribes under section 450b(e) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.
The following qualified aliens are eligible if they have lived in the U.S. for five years in qualified status:
Lawful permanent residents (they may be eligible sooner than five years if they have 40 work credits);
Parolees (paroled for at least one year under section 212(d)(5) of INA);
Conditional entrants under 203(a)(7) of INA in effect prior to April 1, 1980;
A battered spouse, battered child or parent or child of a battered person with a petition pending under 204(a)(1)(A) or (B) or 244(a)(3) of INA.
Most able-bodied people between the ages of 18 and 60 must register for work to qualify for food stamps. Many people may be required to participate in an employment or training program. Some college students also may be eligible.

Here is the link if you doubt what I am saying..
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10101.html

This is my stance on the issue, and it's pretty cut and dry...

If you come here LEGALLY and need to get on food stamps, then by all means, do what you have to do to feed your family. You did it the legal way.

If you come here ILLEGALLY and you take advantage of the system by getting on food stamps and not even bother try to get your workers permit or apply for residency, then you need to get the hell out! They (meaning the illegals) aren't stupid. They know what they are doing. I don't want my tax money going towards food stamps for illegal aliens.

i know exactly what food stamps are. i just read it wrong.

as for us being so different to america- not so. we are in the war with you because we obviously have alot in common.

I have absolutely nothing wrong with Americans, the country itself and the way of life. However- i know your government stinks. Republic, socialist, communist- whatever it makes no difference. The fact is- your government doesn't help your people out at all. I am merely saying, that it needs to be sorted before the rest can be solved.

You all must be so angry with having to help out people who don't help out themselves, and like i said before, its completely understandable.. however if your system worked, you wouldn't have to worry about it in the beginning.

I agree with a lot of what you're saying, but then again when I go to the doctor's office I don't get treated like I'm in line getting my driver's license. It's because the government doesn't have their hands in all social services that we have higher quality of life. Big government doesn't always make things better. Americans have always been fiercely independent and our self reliance certainly hasn't hindered us a bit. One man's meat is another man's poison, after all, it depends how you eat it.

but then again when I go to the doctor's office I don't get treated like I'm in line getting my driver's license.

Wow. That's not even right. Every Australian- EVEN NICOLE KIDMAN has medicare. It's not a hand out, its not welfare. It's our RIGHT. Think of Mel Gibson- he will have an Australian Medicare Card in his wallet. Not because he is a cheap bastard, but because he is Australian. A very SMALL percentage of Australians are actually on WELFARE. So there are no lines in doctors offices. Instead there are comfy leather couches, nice paintings and water distributors.


We are fiercely independant too, however our government- doesn't let us die if we can't afford the medication. Our government also does not allow our people to live on the streets. Maybe your country is too "independant", because there are people in your country dying every day because they can't afford the proper care, even the LEGAL AMERICANS.
It's because the government doesn't have their hands in all social services that we have higher quality of life.

And Sarah, if your comparing Australia with the US then you are in absolutely no position to say that the US has a higher quality of life.

Sorry, thinking about Canada, which is also a Commonwealth. Those are the main complaints I have read about them saying that out here. As for the statement you made saying how we are allowed to die in the streets, it's not as common as you would like to think, and there are plenty of charities and outreach programs at the local government level that these people can take advantage of. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink.

So there are no lines in doctors offices. Instead there are comfy leather couches, nice paintings and water distributors

That's nice about the waiting rooms, but how good is the quality of the actual medical care?? You don't read very often about people flying to Australia and Canada for heart transplants. They are always coming here for those services. Now, could that be because in spite of what you think about our governement and medical, that we do have higher quality care that are private medical institutions?? :thinking
We don't need to rely on BIG government to give us good medical care .

Sarah, thats the problem. Your government would let you go to a charity to get medical help if one needs it? How about if that person has cancer- and needs hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of treatment. Or if that person has a very bad heart condition- should they really have to get into debt to live?

As for our medical care- its world class. If you did some research- you would see that. You would also see that we are always coming up with findings about diseases and illnesses. If you really need to know why the US has more doctors then Australia- then ill say it for you- because your population is alot larger. We have 19 million in our country. Yours has like what- over 300 million or something?! The answer is right there.

And please, don't you DARE compare us to CANADA! That's like comparing us to fuckin Mongolia- IT JUST DOES NOT HAPPEN!

Under 500,000 australians are on welfare. We have 19 million. Figure out the percentage and then you will know we are not welfare suckers- we don't live on welfare and we don't need welfare to live. We just have medical care- so they don't let us fuckin die when we need to have heart surgery and we can't afford it.

Seriously- i have never knocked your people. And you have seriously just insulted mine. Thats fucked up. Before you go insulting me- you really need to open a book or google something. My only problem is with your government, because the truth is, it does not care about your people. Instead it just apologises when its publicly questioned about how much they didn't help out during a time of need.

And Sarah, if your comparing Australia with the US then you are in absolutely no position to say that the US has a higher quality of life.

Well Simone, ask any Aborigine about how good their quality of life is. I'm sure it's really great :rolleyes.

Also, you are in no position to question our government as well. We didn't become the world's sole super power by being second best. When my husband visited Australia on numerous occasions, he said that when he asked the locals what it was like to live in Australia, they almost always griped about how they were being taxed to death, and were usually jealous when he would mention how much of his paycheck he got to keep for himself. He didn't think that was any way to live, but liked Australia otherwise ;)

Well Simone, ask any Aborigine about how good their quality of life is. I'm sure it's really great

You know what, your totally right. We completely took over their land, just like your people did to the native americans. However- if you ask them... they will simply tell you this. They don't BUY land, its GIVEN to them. They are paid WELFARE- each fortnight to live in that house- the tax payers fund. They are also given money for food and everything else. Also- their children, from the age of 6- are PAID to go to school. Buy the time they are 16- they are getting over 500 a fortnight, per child to attend school. Now thats not including the rest of the money they get for living at their home.

But your completely right- its not the way they are used to, we totally took over their land.

However your completely wrong if you think we don't try and compensate for all the fucked up things our ancestors did.

Ok, first off, you need to stop the swearing at me. I haven't used foul language to you, so keep it classy and mature here Simone.

If I offended you, I apologize, but your statements have offended me as well. I love being an American as much as you love being an Australian. In general I AGREE with what you have posted just now; but with Canada , we always hear from them, how great their country is, then just like you mentioned, it's really messed up there. Sorry I used Canada as an example. They are an English Commonwealth, just like Australia, and one can assume(to a point) that they are managed the same. Certainly Australia is doing much better than Canada and I mean that as a compliment.

Now I have had enough of this bantering, and I am heading to bed.

I am hardly classy when i am angry (im working on it). That i openly admit all the time. However i wasn't directly swearing at you, just at what you said. Obviously it pissed me off.

I have never heard Australia being compared with Canada- instead its usually compared with the US. Australia is usually compared with NZ and well we get angry with that but atleast its fair. However i still can not understand why we would be compared to Canada. Australia is known for the rich economy, the choices and the freedom.. not to mention the beautiful beaches and wildlife. All i know about Canada is that it has alot of trees and brown bears.

If ive insulted you, i am sorry. Throughout this whole discussion i have never once battered your people. However your government is another thing. I just believe that since your country is the country dominating the world- their should be better help out there for the ones who need it. Not having to rely on charities- cos charities only go so far. But as i said- i didn't mean to insult anyone.

Have a nice night Sarah.

here is my 2 cents for what it's worth. my parents did it the legal way. my mom and i stayed behind in Korea when my dad got orders back to the states. my mom wanted no reason for her citizen status to come up. my dad was always gone with the air force. she didnt want to take the chance of something happening while he was gone. we stayed in Korea for 1 year while my parents scrimped and saved the money that they needed and for all the paperwork to go through. back then the military pay was much lower than what we get now vs. cost of living. my dad had to work "pick up" jobs when he was home to get money saved. but they dealt with it and did it the legal way. yea, we could have come at the same time as my dad. i was an american citizen, and technically she was too. her "dad" was a us marine. but he never did the paperwork for her to be able to prove it.

i never realized how bad the illegal immagration problem was till we moved to san diego. how is it fair, that my tax dollars are going to educating illegal immagrants children when there is a problem educating our own children? i am all for making a better life for your family, but what is that teaching their children when they are breaking laws to do it?

as for medical care....... i dont see where we are letting our sick just die. my mom's neighbor battled several cancers for 14 years. all on the govt's dime, cause she was single and couldnt work, so no insurance. as far as i know, all 50 states have programs for children of families who dont have insurance to make sure they are covered. the email group that i belong too, all of the kids who are not citizens all came to the states for treatment that the US tax dollars paid for. canadians, australains, british, german, japanese. none of the families paid a dime. there are 23 families that did this and only 2 went to St Judes. so 21 of them our tax dollars paid for. you know, that doesnt bother me. all of these kids are under the age of 5 when diagnosed. if i was in their position, i would go to the best possible place for care as well.

Donna- if i can't get medical care overseas without travel insurance. I don't see how any australian can go to america and get treated for free... Especially when i know that australian nationals have to re mortgage their homes to get medical care from the US, if they wont get funded by the AUSTRALIAN government.

Anyways im finishing my end of the debate here.

You girls have the right to get angry with illegal immigrants. They rudely barged in uninvited. However, the problem wouldn't exist if there was no way to get in. I love your country, i love your people, i love your scenary, i love your food, i don't love your government- they are world power. They don't just rule YOUR country- they rule the whole world. There are alot of cracks in your government that need fixing, and its not for my benefit- its for yours.

Your medical system isn't too bad, it just needs to be able to help out more people. Not everyone can afford insurance and thats where the crack shows up. Also i must say your tax system is much better then ours.. so thats good too.

No government is perfect, mine isn't. My prime minister has his lips sewn onto your presidents ass. So yeah obviously my government isn't perfect. We just have better benefits. And i think you should all have the same too.

Tis all.

I am absolutely not saying that anyone deserves to starve. I was countering Sonia's comment (that she has edited) stating that "it's hard to become legal".

:edit
I just wanted to add something. You say "it's easy for people that are born here to say something like that..." . Yes I was born here, and I still don't understand. So if you can answer the question, I really would like to know - I'm not being a smartass, maybe I'm just naive or something. I really don't understand how you can be accidentally illegal. If you can give me a legitimate answer to that question, then perhaps I can look different on those that are illegal but can't help it.

Ok, maybe accidental was the wrong word to use, but for the person I was talking about in my now edited post the choice was to either die or flee the country he was in. He chose to live. To deny him food now, after the ordeal he's gone through....

I do think your posts are somewhat callous, in this instance, and I'm pulling out of the debate.

Ok, now that I'm the bad guy I suppose I'll pull out too. Forgive me for my harsh, callous, rude comments. I didn't mean to hurt anyone, I DID NOT UNDERSTAND how you could be accidentally illegal. It was a LEGITIMATE question. I guess I'm not as smart as I thought I was. I've never personally had to worry about how the hell I was going to get to America, as I was lucky enough to be born a citizen. I looked at DH last night in amazement and said "Honey, are there really people who's one and only life's ambition is to come to America??" I was shocked that his answer was "YES!" with a chuckle.

OK? I'M SORRY ALREADY. I DIDN'T REALIZE.


:edit

AND NOT ONCE DID I EVER SAY ANYONE DESERVED TO STARVE. NOT ONCE. I simply had (and still have) a hard time grasping why some people can come to our country legally and some can't. Not WON'T, but CAN'T. But whatever, I'm out.

That's why as much as I can I try to stay out of these particular immigration debates. I try very hard to look at it from both sides, but when the issue hits so close to home, it becomes very hard when you are emotionally fueled. This is one of those issues that I become like 85% one-sided, because I've been on that side. And I'm not pissed of at anyone or hurt, debating about things is how people get educated on issues. When I get fueled is when I hear those generalized comments like 'those illegals' "those Illegal aliens" 'those people' 'they are all criminals' 'they are all here to abuse our system', etc.... They are ALL generalized comments. 'those' people are human beings, they are not aliens, they are not all criminals, they are not some devil monster who'e sole purpose is to ruin the american society. And most of them are NOT criminals and most of them don't come here to just live a cushy life and take advantage of the system. Again, those are the comments that fuel my emotions because I KNOW, I've been on the front lines, I've worked with many of these hard working people and families who all they want is a better life and they are willing to break their backs for it. To me generalized comments are fueled by ignorance. Let me put it this way, how do military wives feel like when someone says "those women", they "all marry military men to take advantage of the beneifts", they are "all fat bitches who don't wanna workk and just sit at home all day and be lazy", etc. I know many of you hav eheard those comments, it pisses you off right? Becuase even though yes there are several bad apples who do fit that generalized comments, no its not ALL who do. anyway, I only wanted to tell my story, not necessarily participate in the debate, so that some of you can actually hear a real life story of what its like to be on the other side.