Bill would bar state aid to illegal aliens


By Tim Evans
tim.evans@indystar.com
Members of the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee voted today to send the full House a bill that would prohibit undocumented immigrants from receiving most types of public assistance and all but emergency health care from public hospitals.


The bill also would require law enforcement agencies to verify the immigration status of suspected illegal aliens.
"I think this is the right statement for Indiana," said Rep. P. Eric Turner, R-Gas City, who sponsored House Bill 1383. "We should not reward somebody who comes here illegally by trying to figure out how to give them benefits of U.S. citizens."
Turner said an estimated 45,000 illegal immigrants put a huge strain on the state's resources and divert funds that could be used to help citizens and legal immigrants.
A provision in the bill that also would have prohibited public schools from admitting undocumented students was withdrawn by Turner at the beginning of the hearing.
Some legislators and advocates for the state's growing Hispanic community called the bill "mean-spirited," and said it lacked sanctions against businesses profiting from the cheap labor provided by undocumented immigrants. Representatives of several health care and education groups also expressed concerns about the restrictions to medical care, especially those affecting children.
Turner said he was open to working with legislators to add penalties for companies hiring illegal immigrants and to address concerns raised by the health care providers before the bill receives a second reading on the House floor.

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