New law won't keep immigrants from food help
Hunger » SB 81 doesn't affect food stamp eligibility
By Julia Lyon



Updated: 05/02/2009 09:25:45 PM MDT


For a growing number of Utah Latinos, feeding their children has made them afraid. They worry that getting help from an emergency food bank might lead to deportation. They fear that signing their American-born children up for food stamps would put their families at risk.

"There is a lot of misinformation," said Lydia Herrera, a food bank director in Salt Lake City. "They think as soon as you step out of your house you will be arrested."

Despite the concern, a new state law limiting government services for undocumented immigrants won't prevent them from receiving aid at food pantries, according to the advocacy group Utahns Against Hunger. They believe that the law, which goes into effect July 1, specifically excludes "programs, services, or assistance such as soup kitchens" -- although they're waiting for confirmation from the Utah Attorney General's Office.

The wide-ranging law will change the lives of many undocumented newcomers, potentially affecting their jobs, businesses and medical care. And many questions remain.

Families have asked Tijuana-born Herrera, who runs Hildegarde's Pantry at St. Mark's Cathedral, whether the pantry will turn them into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She reassures them that is not the case.

"Low income families are low income families, regardless of their immigration status," said Gina Cornia, the executive director of Utahns Against Hunger. "Those families ought to be able to feed their children."

The group plans to send a letter to emergency food banks across the state to clarify that anyone, no matter where they were born, has a right to food in a crisis. Proof of citizenship is not required.

The way the Iron County Care and Share originally read the new immigration law, it seemed like it was restricted from helping the undocumented, who make up less than 10 percent of its food pantry clients. Bill Woods, the executive director, is still looking for answers.

"If I turn away one hungry child just because they're undocumented, that's not something my people are going to be too thrilled about doing," he said. "I need some kind of ruling that says this is what [the law] means to you down in the trenches."

The Care and Share, in Cedar City, relies on government funding and private donations to run a shelter and offer other emergency assistance, such as gas vouchers and rent help.

"We'd be putting all of the money that we get from state and federal grants at risk if we were breaking the law," Woods said.

At a time when the number of Utah households on food stamps is at a record high, the number of Latino families asking Lucia Gonzalez for help signing up for food stamps has decreased, something she attributes to fear.

"I have to convince the families that it's OK to apply for the food stamps for the [American-born] children," said Gonzalez, who works as an advocate for the Salt Lake Community Action Program and its food pantries.

The new state law does not change food stamp citizenship requirements: If poor undocumented immigrants have children born in the U.S., they can request food stamp help for the children.

But many immigrants have been confused, assuming that their undocumented status disqualifies their offspring and will put the family at risk.

Not so, says the Utah Department of Workforce Services, which manages the food stamp program.

"We do not tell Homeland Security or anyone else about these people," said Kathy Link, food stamp program manager -- unless the individual shows them an order of deportation.

jlyon@sltrib.com

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