American taxpayers are willing to help those who need it. But we have grown increasingly tired of footing the bill for those who will not help themselves. Perhaps the most fundamental requirement of Americas immigration policy is that immigrants be selfreliant. not dependent on the American taxpayers for support. Since 1882. for over 100 years. those who are likely to become public charges or participate in the welfare system have been inadmissible to our country. Since 1917 noncitizens who become public charges after they enter the United States have. in fact. been subject to deportation. Many immigrants come to America for economic opportunity. In fact. most of them do. However. others come to live off the American taxpayer. Noncitizen welfare recipients of supplemental security income have increased 580 percent over the last 12 years. When all the major welfare programs are added together. studies show that immigrants receive $26 billion each year in welfare assistance. Now. should not those funds rather be going to needy American citizens? This bill complements the House immigration reform bill. H.R. 2202. which passed the House by a vote of 333 to 87. H.R. 2202 prevents illegal aliens from receiving public benefits. enforces the public charge exclusion and deportation provisions of current law and encourages immigrant sponsors to fulfill their financial obligations. It is critical for Congress to send both H.R. 3424 and N.R. 2202 to the President this year. The American people are depending on us to reform Americas welfare and immigration policies. President Clinton. after promising to end welfare as we know it. has twice this year vetoed proposals to do just that. Let us hope the administration will finally keep its promise to the American people and sign this bill.
Identified stereotypes
Generalization that immigrants come to live off the American taxpayer.