That is the principle that underlies our bill. We believe that those who were in this country and playing by the rules should not have the rules suddenly changed out from under them. As for refugees. we provide them a slightly broader provision. since unlike other immigrants they do not have sponsors and they come here to flee persecution. This Is a matter of great importance to the residents in the States represented before you today. In my own State. a significant percentage of our total population is immigrants. indeed. measured in those terms. Rhode Island is one of the top immigrant States in the country. Some 10.000 legal immigrants in my State rely on SSI and food stamp benefits. quite a lot by RI standards. We believe that our approach is a reasonable. commonsense proposal that will appeal to Members on both sides of the aisle and that can be enacted this year. By introducing this bipartisan bill today. we hope to signal to our colleagues the seriousness of our concern and the strength of our resolve.
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refugees immigrant immigrants