Officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture have been quietly assuring illegal immigrants that taking food stamps and other government assistance won’t slow their paths toward citizenship.
The agency’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program addresses the point: The brochure asks, “If I get on SNAP benefits, will I be a ‘public charge?’”
SEE RELATED: Reports: Medicare paid $120M in illegal care
The brochure then answers: “No. You and your family can apply for and receive SNAP benefits without hurting your chance of becoming U.S. citizens.”
The Daily Caller reported on the brochure, which was part of a packet the USDA gives Mexican consulates for distribution among various Mexican communities in the United States.
The Census Breau reports that heads of households born in Mexico are more likely than any other nationality to take some form of government food assistance.
More than 45 percent are on food assistance, according to March 2011 Census figures, The Daily Caller reports. By way of comparison, just under 14 percent of native-born Americans use food stamps, the report continued.
© Copyright 2013 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.
Cheryl Chumley is a continuous news writer for The Washington Times. Previously, she was part of the start-up team for The Washington Times’ digital aggregation product, Times247. She’s also a 2008-2009 Robert Novak journalism fellow with The Phillips Foundation. She can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
'Your papers, please' must never be heard in America
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
We all eat, and food should be fun and healthful. Food Commune celebrates the food we eat, the people we eat with and the spirits we enjoy.
First over-the-counter column approved for fast and effective relief from even your worst media-induced headache.
A collection of reader guest articles, thoughts and opinions by Communities writers and breaking news and information.
Benghazi: The anatomy of a scandal
13 Photos
Vietnam Memorial adds four names
18 Photos
Cinco de Mayo on the Mall
11 Photos
