Thursday, June 6, 1996
Bills threatens deporation for use of social servicesBy Levin Sy
and Stephanie Wang
Congress wants to:
*Deny public education to undocumented children.
*Restrict legal immigrants’ access to over 60 government
programs including job training, Medicaid, public housing, school
lunches and FINANCIAL AID.
*Deport legal immigrants for using these programs.
Although the recently passed House and Senate bills have been
characterized as "illegal immigration" legislation, their
intentions run deeper and are far more sinister. In attempting to
federalize Proposition 187, Congress is climbing onto the
anti-immigrant bandwagon and has included another target: legal
immigrants.
Whatever semblance of the "American Dream" remains for legal
immigrants to pursue will be snatched away purely on the basis of
their immigrant status. Different approaches are being taken by the
House and Senate: The House proposes to deny legal immigrants
much-needed services through the threat of deportation. Legal
residents who pay taxes will be deportable if they receive more
than 12 months of assistance within seven years of entry or
admission as a permanent resident.
The proposed legislation threatens a broad spectrum of services
that enable immigrants to build foundations and futures including
Supplemental Security Income, Aid to Families with Dependent
Children, Medicaid, food stamps, State General Assistance and
federal rental housing assistance. The future of refugee
communities in the Asian Pacific American community are even more
precarious as U.S. foreign policy in Asia has forced the migration
of Southeast Asians into this country. Will the U.S. government
maintain their commitment to these individuals who have sacrificed
their lives for democracy or scapegoat them?
The Senate version of the bill would restrict eligibility to
federal and state programs through a complex system of "deeming"
requirements. "Deeming" is when an immigrant’s sponsor’s income is
added, or "deemed" to the legal immigrant’s income in order to
determine eligibility for government assistance. This would
negatively effect the number of legal immigrants who can be
eligible for need-based programs, ranging from student loans backed
by the federal government to federally-funded job training programs
to child care.
How can legal residents realistically afford to pay for school?
Their expected family contribution will increase due to the
"deeming" provision which would add their sponsor’s income to their
family’s income, and on the slim chance that a student receives
financial aid they can be deported for receiving financial aid for
a period over twelve months.
Don’t deport people for taking steps to become active
participants in American society by attending English classes,
securing loans to attend college and participating in job training
programs. Denying legal immigrants access to immunizations, health
care and violence prevention will threaten public health and
safety. Perhaps the cruelest and most mean-spirited display of
immigrant scapegoating is reflected in the House provision to deny
public education for undocumented children.
By championing legislation that discriminates based on one’s
citizenship and birthplace, Congress is attempting to capitalize on
a resurgence in nativist ideology. This trend has been an active
player in American history, at its height in times of economic
uncertainty. Immigrants are encouraged to come to America when they
can be exploited as a labor force, but find themselves scapegoated
later when economic problems surface.
Our troubled history also bears the burden of repeat offense.
The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 eliminated the presence of
Chinese immigrants, while the 1924 Immigration Act stopped the
entry of immigrants from Asian countries. It was not until 1965
that Asian immigrants began to once again immigrate to the United
States in sizable numbers. It remains that Asians are not close to
being the only group continually targeted. This dangerous cycle of
misguided blame and organized racism cannot be repeated once
again.
When Pat Buchanan spits fire and attacks one of the truly
benevolent American traditions in immigration, he is not presenting
any kind of fresh perspective. He is merely one of many who
conveniently ignore the major role immigrants play in fulfilling
the most laborious and undesirable tasks.
What kind of message does this legislation send to the global
community? We claim to be one of the most diverse nations, a
figurative melting pot where different cultures can thrive in
harmony. It is clear, however, that the notion that America should
be white America persists. In allowing this legislation to take
effect, we are essentially bankrupting any promise of opportunity
and renouncing the indelible and invaluable contribution immigrants
have and continue to make in this country.
Quietly and insidiously, the House and Senate bills have passed
with overwhelming majorities of support. Immigrants should not be
punished for trying to become students, workers, families,
survivors and achievers. In the next few weeks, Congress will
discuss this legislation in a joint conference committee. The final
version will be voted on by both houses.
What can you do? Contact your congressional representatives by
calling (202) 224-3121 or writing them a letter detailing your
personal experience. Join a multi-ethnic coalition of students,
teachers, community organizers, immigrant rights activists and
students in a protest and rally to protect our families and fight
for immigrant rights on Thursday, June 13, 1996 at 4 p.m. at the
Downtown L.A. Federal Building on 300 N. Los Angeles Street.
Sy is a fourth-year Asian American studies and political science
student, and the 1995-96 director of the Asian Pacific Coalition.
Wang is a second-year Asian American studies and history student,
and the 1996-97 assistant programmer of the Asian Pacific
Coalition.