Finally. Mr. President. there were a number of votes on amendments to Title V of the bill which dealt with the provision of Federal meanstested benefits to noncitizens. Let me briefly address a couple of these. First. I see no merit or justificationwhere the U.S. Constitution is silentin drawing distinctions between naturalized and nativeborn citizens. Where the Constitution makes distinctions. we must abide by its directives. Beyond that. I believe all citizens. regardless of how they arrived at their citizenship. ought to be treated equally under the law. America is a nation built by immigrants. It has always served as a shining beacon of freedom to those fleeing tyranny and those seeking opportunity. In the case of my own grandparents. they came here merely looking for an opportunity to build a life for themselves. Once they became U.S. citizens. the place of their birth should have had no bearing on their rights or privileges in this country. This is why I voted for the amendment offered by the Senator from California. Senator FEINSTEIN. to remove language in the underlying Dole proposal which would deny cash and noncash welfare benefits to naturalized citizens during the "deeming" period. The "deeming" period refers to the time during which the assets of the immigrants sponsors are counted in evaluating the need for meanstested government assistance. Mr. President.
Keywords matched
naturalized noncitizens immigrants