He entered the United States before the passage of the welfare bill. Under Senator GRAMMs motion to recommit. Dien would be cut off from receiving food stamps after his initial 5 years in the United States. .Last year. over 25.000 refugees came to the United States fleeing religious persecution in the Former Soviet Union. These refugees included Jews. Evangelical Christians. Mormons and other religious minorities fleeing the restriction of their religious liberties. Under Senator GRAMMs amendment. these refugees will only be eligible for food stamps for their first 5 years in the United States. Since refugees cannot apply for naturalization until they have lived in the United States for 5 years. there will be a gap in their food stamp eligibility. depending on how long the naturalization backlog is at the time they apply. The naturalization backlog is expected to increase without an increase in INS funding. Record numbers of legal immigrants are applying for citzenshipmore than a million per year. This number is not expected to decrease. Few actions are a more important part of our timehonored commitment to freedom around the world than opening Americas doors to those who are denied freedom and face persecution in their own lands.
Keywords matched
refugees immigrants naturalization