Al Dia newspaper serves as a medium to promote and encourage illegal aliens to take advantage of every kind of public benefit/social service that is out there....this paper is clearly an outspoken advocate for illegal aliens. Here is my translation of this article along with my comments in parenthesis....
LL


Food Stamps are a right and a help
by Milena Velis Al DIA

Food Stamps serve to obtain groceries at businesses that participate in the program. Undocumented families can ask for food stamps for their U.S. born children according to federal guidelines. (time to change those "guidelines") Despite this "right" that children of immigrants have, only 62% of them receive this benefit and there are those that believe it's because of fear or lack of information. (so this newspaper is going to make sure that every illegal alien in Philadelphia signs up for food stamps..courtesy of U.S. citizen taxpayers)

The welfare office has no contact with the immigration office (obviously that needs to change as well, how about it Janet Napolitano?) , says Maria Rodgriguez, a counselor at the Philadelphia Coalition against Hunger. "When they ask about citizenship, one simply has to indicate that (the parents) are not eligible for the stamps due to their (immigration status) and their are no more questions after that. (it should be that at this point, the counselors have a duty to report this information to ICE..one could only hope)

Food stamps are given out via an electronic card that looks like a credit card and can be used to purchase food at participating businesses enrolled in the program.

Rachel Meeks, Director of the Food Stamp campaign at the PHiladelphia Coalition Against Hunger says there are 100,000 people eligible for food stamps in Philadelphia and are not participating. (again, Al Dia and these taxpayer funded organizations are actively encouraging illegal immigrant families to take advantage of this government freebie, courtesy of the rest of us..)

One in four Philadelphia residents, 351,879, receive food stamps. (seems high, where's the source for this statistic?) This group includes documented and undocumented immigrant families. (if "fear" is keeping illegal alien families from seeking food stamps..then how do they know that this number of recipients include illegals?) Immigrants age 18 or above must be perm. residents for at least five years to qualify for food stamps, but each U.S. born person has a right to this assistance.

According to Meeks, the Philadelphia areas with the lowest food stamp participating rates are also the areas with the greatest immigrant population including the far northeast and south of the city. The low rate of immigrant participation in this program is a national phenomenon, according to the Institute for Urban Justice. (and even if one can believe this "source"....then Meeks and this newspaper will do all it can to ensure that every illegal alien with anchor babies applies for food stamps)

Meeks added that being enrolled in the food stamp program doesn't negatively affect one's petition for citizenship or family reunification, unlike other public benefits programs. (Whoa, this absolutely should negatively affect one's petition for citizenship or residency..if you're an immigrant parent and can't sustain your family without government assistance..then this should disqualify one's petition and the applicant should be denied and sent home)

Mothers of children under the age of five can also enroll in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, which gives nutritious food to mothers and their infants and has no citizenship or residency requirements of any kind. (No illegal aliens should be eligible for any type of governmental assistance.....this too, must change...the U.S. can no longer afford to be the welfare agency for illegal aliens )

"You, as a taxpayer can receive food stamps, there is no shame", says Rodriguez. (actually it is shameful that illegal aliens having already violated our immigration laws...then apply for and receive U.S. government public benefits because they can't support their families )

Without specifiying a cause, Meeks added that there's been an increase of 24,000 people applying for food stamps this past year. (gee, the severe economic crisis affecting this nation would seem to be the obvious cause, don't you think?)

The Greater Philadelphia Coalition against Hunger provides assessment and counseling for those people wishing to apply for food stamps via their direct line at (215) 430-0556 (surprise..this article was a recruitment ad for this non-profit agency that receives public money ...they need clients to justify their positions and continued funding!)

(translation and added commentary by Legalatina)




Las estampillas de comida son un derecho y una ayuda
Por Milena Velis / Redacción AL DÃ