Warner Signs Anti-Immigrant HB 1798

Democratic Virginia Governor Mark Warner dealt a significant blow to Latino and poverty activists in Virginia yesterday when he signed HB 1798, patroned by Fairfax County Republican Dave Albo, which requires proof of legal presence from those seeking government assistance. "It's very disappointing," the Washington Post quotes Arlington County Board member Walter Tejada (D) chairman of the Virginia Latino Advisory Commission, "It serves no other purpose but to fan the flames of anti-immigrant sentiment . . . and that is simply wrong."

Social service workers have been concerned that the anti-immigrant sentiment the bill embodies will effect many more people than the adult illegal immigrants who are the new law's targets. Many immigrants are already afraid that if they seek services like the FAMIS child health coverage assistance programs (for which all children are eligible regardless of immigration status) they will be turned in to federal officials and deported.

Social service workers have also expressed their dismay at the additional burden this will place on their already imposing workload. State employees whose job it is to ensure that services reach those in need will now have to do the work that federal immigration officials have failed to do, policing federal immigration law.

In addition to the mean-spirited public policy this legislation enacts, it is a political mistake for Virginia's Democratic party. Virginia is estimated to have as many as 250,000 illegal immigrants, most of whom are hard-working, tax-paying residents who do the dirtiest jobs. Over the next decades, many of these people may settle here, becoming citizens themselves or giving birth to children who are American citizens. Gaining the support of this growing portion of the electorate is essential to the long-term health of the Democratic party. Governor Warner should be taken to task for not only signing this "brochure bill" created by right-wing Republicans looking for an election year advantage, but for helping to alienate this growing constituency.

Comments

[Shaula Evans]

This bill is such a huge embarassment and such a great moral failure. I couldn't agree more with Walter Tejada's quote.

[Jim VanGore]

The governor did the right thing by signing this anti-illegal alien bill into law. We're not talking about "legal immigrants", we're talking about "ILLEGAL ALIENS" meaning people who have broken the law by sneaking into the country. They have no right to be here except to be deported back to their native homelands. Why should they be rewarded with benefits??? It's the hard working American taxpayer who has to foot the bill for these invaders. And all this B.S. about them paying tax into the system...YEAH RIGHT!!! The employers who hire them illegaly, they pay cash to them under the table with no taxes taken out, so enough of this bullcrap how they contribute to society. It's the same ole B.S. talk we've been hearing over and over again. This Governor felt the heat from the American people. He knew he was up for re-election in 2006 and he damm well knew that if he vetoed this legislation people voting in 2006 would remember this and vote him out of office. So governor if you read this post even though you suck like all Democrats and Republicans, you did the right thing to save your political ass! Americans everywhere are tired of this illegal alien invasion and they're starting to wake up. This anti-illegal immigration movement is like a snowball getting bigger and bigger rolling down the mountain side and it can't be stopped!!! The open borders and pro-illegal alien lobby groups are getting frustrated at this movement.

[J Lester]

The New York Times published a story on April 5th about illegal immigrants' tax payments. Last year, it is believed that illegal immigrants paid as much as $7 billion in Social Security payroll taxes. This ammount accounts for 10% of the Social Security surplus.

[Jim VanGore]

The New York Times and L.A. Times are very liberal newspapers. They distort the facts that illegal aliens pay into the tax system. The Washington Post wrote an article on FAIR's studies that illegal aliens cost the U.S. economy over $100 billion a year. That's schooling for their children, subsidized housing, medical and hospital costs, incarceration, all paid for by Mr and Mrs. American taxpayer. No wonder the economy is operating in the red. Ballooning deficits and rising.

[tiredandpooryearningtobefreeofdeceit]

We are all in favor of humane treatment for all people and all living things.
But what the pro-illegal employment advocates want is to subsidize big business on the backs of our poor and middle class. They are being charitable with the resources of those of our citizens who can least afford to support a considerable influx of illegal workers.
They are even hiring public relations firms to make illegal labor sound cool.

[US Soldier]

As I recall the Americans of my heritage did not like their British Government and guess what they did? So why aren't these chicken sh.....t illegals staying in their own countries and sheding some blood for the sake of a real government? Hum.........anyone remember the French Revolution either? And if I recall, the MEXICANS overthrew their Spanish Government. So let's see, the US takes on at that time the largest power in the world and defeats it on our own soil. Then the Mexicans do the same. So why is Mexico so dicked up and everyone wants to come to the US? Go home illegals and fix your own mess of a country, then perhaps you can come up with a government that pays a decent wage. Oh, and by the way, feel free to kick out all of the US companies who went down there to exploit you as well!

[ro11ck]

m832k

[ro11ck]

m832k