Speech #1040243793

It will be basically a year process. I suggest during that year process. if they still are concerned or they still are. in fact. disabled or believe they would not be able to work. they can begin to go through the process during that transition year to get their citizenship. I think we provide plenty of avenues for the truly disabled refugees and asylees to be able to stay on these benefits if. in fact. they are truly disabled. It takes some initiative on their part. but my goodness. should we not expect some initiative on the peoples part. to create some link between themselves and this country in order to receive benefits? I remind the Senators from California. I believe. and I can be corrected. but I believe we are the only country in the world who actually provides welfare benefits for their immigrants as soon as they comn. into this country. We are. in a sense. tlready very generous. I am not saying we should not be generous to those who are in need. But. at some point. like we are saying to moms who are having children and are on AFDC. there is a contract here. If we are going to limit moms with children on AFDC to 5 years. I think we have every right to limit refugees in this country who come here for 5 years. What we are saying to the refugees. unlike what we are saying to the moms. you get your citizenship in the fifth year. you can get back on the rolls. Wedo not let moms back on the rolls. We are being painted as being cruel and knocking all these people off. when in fact what we are being is somewhat principled. I believe it will actually work to the benefit of the refugees who will seek citizenship. which will make them more likely to be successful in their economic life in America. I think there are a lot of positive things we can say. This is not. as I am sure will be noted in some publications. any kind of immigrantbashingnothing like that. We think people who are sponsored immigrants should live up to their contract. and people who are refugees. and Immigrants. and asylees should have a period of time in which we will help them. and then at some point they have to help themselves. just like a lot of other people who are going to be dealing with the welfare system with AFDC.